Pongamia pinnata, commonly known as Indian beech or “Pungai maram” in Tamil, is native to the regions of tropical Asia and Australia. This fast growing deciduous tree can grow upto 20 metres tall and has an equally vast canopy. The early leaves are a soft caramel that mature into a bright lush green. You can never miss the vivid bunches of white and pink-violet blossoms that are scattered on their branches throughout the year. It attracts a wide range of birds and pollinators. Along with the flowers they produce robust seeds in thick brown pods after 5 – 6 years, making the tree easy to propagate. These seeds have a high fatty acid content and can be processed to be used as biodiesel in rural areas.
Pongamia’s dense lateral root network and a thick tap root makes it a drought resistant species that recent research has found to be ideal for reforestation in degraded lands. The litter from this tree is rich in essential nutrients and makes an excellent biofertiliser.
It’s uses
Its leaves and seeds have several health benefits including: anti-inflammatory properties, defense against rheumatic illnesses and production of cholera toxin, and have been used in native medicine from pre-modern period.
