Pongam tree 

Pongam tree (Pongamia)

🔹 Scientific & Common Details

Scientific name: Millettia pinnata (synonym: Pongamia pinnata)

Common names: Pongam, Indian Beech, Karanj, Honge, Karanja

Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)

🔹 Local / Traditional Uses

Medicinal:

Seed oil (karanja oil) used in traditional medicine for skin diseases, rheumatism, and as an antiseptic.

Leaves used in poultices for wounds and inflammations.

Agricultural:

Oilcake (by-product after oil extraction) used as organic manure.

Leaves sometimes used as green manure.

Other Uses:

Seed oil used in lamps, soaps, and sometimes blended with biodiesel.

Wood used for fuel and light timber purposes.

Shade tree commonly planted along roadsides and in villages.

🔹 Ecological Role

1. Shade: Dense foliage provides excellent shade, making it a popular roadside and avenue tree.

2. Soil Fertility: Being a legume, its roots fix atmospheric nitrogen, enriching the soil.

3. Bird Nesting: Branches and thick canopy support nesting of birds like mynas, pigeons, and doves.

4. Carbon Sequestration: Absorbs significant amounts of CO₂, helping in climate regulation.

5. Erosion Control: Deep root system binds soil and prevents erosion along riverbanks and degraded lands.

🔹 Fun Facts 🌱

Pongam is called the “Diesel Tree” because its oil can be processed into biodiesel.

Flowers attract bees and butterflies, making it useful for pollinator support.

It is a hardy tree, tolerating drought, saline soils, and polluted urban conditions.

In Ayurveda, almost every part of the tree—leaves, bark, flowers, and seeds—has some medicinal use

🔹 Cultural Significance

In Indian villages, Pongam trees are often planted on roadsides, near temples, and in community spaces for shade and social gatherings.

The tree is considered auspicious in some regions, associated with protection and prosperity.

During festivals, branches and leaves may be used for decoration.

Its resilient nature symbolizes endurance and self-sufficiency in folklore.