Prosopis cineraria
| Prosopis cineraria | |
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| Species: | P. cineraria
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| Binomial name | |
| Prosopis cineraria | |
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Adenanthera aculeata Roxb.[1] | |
Prosopis cineraria is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is native to arid portions of Western Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Iran, India, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is an established introduced species in parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.[1] Common names include Ghaf (Arabic);[2] Khejri or "Loong Tree" [3](Rajasthan); Janty(जांटी) (Bishnois); Jund (Punjabi); Kahoor (Balochi); Kandi (Sindhi); Banni / Shami (Kannada);Gandasein(Burmese); Vanni (Tamil); Jammi (Telugu); Chaunkra,[1] Jant/Janti, Khar,[1] Khejri/Khejra,[1] Sami, Shami (Marathi)and (Hindi);[4] Khijdo (Gujarat); Vanni-andara, Katu andara, Kalapu andara, Lunu andara (Sinhala), ಶಮೀವೃಕ್ಷ or ಬನ್ನೀಮರ (kannada).
It is the state tree of Rajasthan and Telangana (India. A large and well-known example of the species is the Tree of Life in Bahrain – approximately 400 years old and growing in a desert devoid of any obvious sources of water.
It is also the national tree of the United Arab Emirates. Through the Give a Ghaf campaign its citizens are urged to plant it in their gardens to combat desertification and to preserve their country's heritage.[5]
Description
P. cineraria is a small tree, ranging in height from 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft). Leaves are bipinnate, with seven to fourteen leaflets on each of one to three pinnae. Branches are thorned along the internodes. Flowers are small and creamy-yellow, and followed by seeds in pods. The tree is found in extremely arid conditions, with rainfall as low as 15 cm (5.9 in) annually; but is indicative of the presence of a deep water table. As with some other Prosopis spp., P. cineraria has demonstrated a tolerance of highly alkaline and saline environments.[6]
Uses
The wood of P. cineraria is a good fuel source, and provides excellent charcoal plus firewood, fodder, green manure and goat-proof thorny fences.[4][6][7]
The leaves, called "Loong" in India and pods are consumed by livestock and are a beneficial forage.[4][6] In Rajasthan, India, P. cineraria is grown in an agroforestry setting in conjunction with millet.[6] The tree is well-suited for an agroforestry setting, because it has a single-layered canopy, it is a nitrogen fixer (thus enriching the soil), and its deep roots avoid competition for water with crops.[4]
Prosopis cineraria fruits or pods are locally called sangar or sangri in Rajasthan,India . The dried pods locally[where?] called Kho-Kha are eaten. Dried pods also are used as animal feed for livestock. Green pods can also be used as an animal feed, which is prepared by drying the young boiled pods. The dried green sangri is used as a dried vegetable. Many Rajasthani families use the green and unripe pods (sangri) in preparation of curries and pickles.[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce". Catalogue of Life. Integrated Taxonomic Information System and Species2000. 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
- ^ a b "Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2006-01-27. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ^ Rejuvenation of Khejri Trees through Bio-control Agents
- ^ a b c d "Prosopis cineraria". AgroForestryTree Database. World Agroforestry Centre. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
- ^ Philp, Myra (17 June 2013). "UAE groups help to save ghaf trees on UN 'Combat Desertification Day'". 7DAYS in Dubai. Al Sidra Media. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce". Tropical Forages. Centre for International Agriculture Research and Food and Agriculture Agency. 2005. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
- ^ The Secret Life of Trees, by Colin Tudge. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-101293-3.
- ^ "Kijri -Prosopis cineraria".
External links
- The wonders of the ‘wonder tree’, Tribune India
- Meet the Ghaf Tree