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Pongamia pinnata - Karanjah

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Karanjah

Pongamia pinnata is a genus of legume in the fabaceae family. Recently it has been proposed that the genus Pongamia be rejected in favor of the genus Millettia and many species have been reclassified. Due to recent interest in biofuels, Pongamia is often the generic name given for Millettia pinnata, a tree being explored for producing biodiesel.

Uses

Dyspepsia, Skin diseases, Rheumatic joints, Scabies, Bronchitis, Whooping cough, Febrifuge, Bleeding haemorrhoids

Parts Used

Dried foliage, Whole herb.

Chemical Composition

The metabolities, beta-sitosteryl acetate and galactoside, stigma sterol, its galactoside and sucrose are being reported for the first time from this plant.[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Honge, Hulagilu
Hindi Dithouri, Karuaini
Malayalam Avittal, Ungu, Unu, Pungu
Tamil Pungan, Pongana
Telugu Lamiga, Kanuga
Marathi Karanja
Gujarathi Kanajo, Karanji
Punjabi Karanj
Kashmiri Kath
Sanskrit Karanjaka, Natkamala
English Smooth leaved pongamia


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Evergreen tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Imparipinnate Ovate-oblong leaflets 5-7, opposite, leaflet 4.5-12 x 2-7 cm, margin entire, secondary veins 5 - 8 pairs, pinnate, tertiary veins reticulate, obscure.

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Bisexual 15-18mm long Purplish white 10 Flowers bisexual, purplish-white, 15-18 mm long, in lax axillary racemes, axis pubescent; bracts small, cauducous. Calyx tube campanulate; minutely 5 toothed, apex truncate; corolla exserted. Petals 5, clawed; standard suborbicular with curved folds above the claw; wings obliquely oblong, slightly adnate above the claws to the obtuse keel petals which are joined near the tip. Stamens 10, monadelphous, the vexillary stamen free below and above; anthers uniform. Ovary subsessile, inferior, 1-celled, ovules 2; style in curved, beardless; stigma capitate.

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Pod 4-5 x 2-2.5 cm obliquely oblong, flat, thick, pointed at both ends, indehiscent, slightly falcate seed one, reniform. {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Seeds, remaining viable for sometime, require no special scarification. Direct sowing is usually successful. Seedlings transplant easily from the nursery after about a year. Root suckers are rather plentiful as well. It is a rapid-growing coppice species that can be cloned.[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Villages, Cities, River banks, Coastal areas.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links