Good pictures, Sadhana ji. Some extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures/ more details, pl. click on the link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongamia_pinnata
*Pongamia pinnata* (*Indian Beech Tree*, *Honge Tree*, *Pongam Tree*, *Milletia Pinnata*) is a tree thought to have originated in India<http://mail.google.com/wiki/India> and is found throughout Asia <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Asia>. While it is commonly referred to as *Pongmaia pinnata* recent research has suggested that it should be reclassified to genus *Millettia*. *Pongamia pinnata* is a deciduous <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Deciduous> legume <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Legume> tree that grows to about 15-25 meters in height with a large canopy <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Canopy> which spreads equally wide. The leaves are a soft, shiny burgundy in early summer and mature to a glossy, deep green as the season progresses. Flowering starts in general after 3-4 years. Cropping of pods and single almond sized seeds can occur by 4-6 years. Small clusters of white, purple, and pink flowers <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Flower> blossom on their branches throughout the year, maturing into brown seed<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Seed> pods. The tree is well suited to intense heat and sunlight and its dense network of lateral roots and its thick, long taproot<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Taproot> make it drought-tolerant. The dense shade it provides slows the evaporation of surface water and its root nodules<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Root_nodules> promote nitrogen fixation <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Nitrogen_fixation>, a symbiotic process by which gaseous nitrogen (N2)<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Nitrogen> from the air is converted into NH4+ <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Ammonium> (a form of nitrogen available to the plant). Withstanding temperatures slightly below 0°C to 50°C and annual rainfall of 50–250 cm, the tree grows wild on sandy and rocky soils, including oolitic limestone<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Oolitic_limestone>, but will grow in most soil types, even with its roots in salt water.[1]<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=HYFyTAqnPr8.en_GB.&am=b7EopeS3cCFPDX3i1_Q2SgddRKi7nPs#cite_note-0> Known by many names (Panigrahi, Karanji , Calpa, and Ponge, among other) it is a tree that is well-adapted to arid <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Arid> zones and has many traditional uses. It is often used for landscaping purposes as a windbreak <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Windbreak> or for shade due to the large canopy and showy fragrant flowers. The bark can be used to make twine or rope and it also yields a black gum that has historically been used to treat wounds caused by poisonous fish. The flowers are used by gardeners as compost for plants requiring rich nutrients<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Nutrients>. Although all parts of the plant are toxic<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Toxic> and will induce nausea and vomiting if eaten, the fruits and sprouts, along with the seeds, are used in many traditional remedies. Juices from the plant, as well as the oil, are antiseptic<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Antiseptic> and resistant to pests. In addition the Pongamia tree has the rare property of producing seeds of 25-40% lipid <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Lipid> content of which nearly half is Oleic acid <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Oleic_acid>. [2]<http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=HYFyTAqnPr8.en_GB.&am=b7EopeS3cCFPDX3i1_Q2SgddRKi7nPs#cite_note-1> The seed oil is an important asset of this tree having been used as lamp oil, in soap <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Soap> making, and as a lubricant<http://mail.google.com/wiki/Lubricant> for thousands of years. The seed oil has been found to be useful in diesel generators and, along with Jatropha <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Jatropha>, it is being explored in hundreds of projects throughout India and the third world as feedstock for biodiesel <http://mail.google.com/wiki/Biodiesel>. 2009/5/3 Sadhna Sharma <[email protected]> > Karanj or *Pongamia pinnata* looking beautiful in fresh leaves and flower > buds. > > Much better images by Vinod ji and Satish ji at > http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/99bf7dcc9ba45bd3 > > Best, > Sadhna Sharma > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
