Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre

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Family : Leguminosae (Papilionoideae)

Synonym : Galedupa indica Lam.

Common Names : Ung, Minnari, Ponnam, Hongay oil tree, Indian beech tree, Pongam oil tree

Flowering Period : April – December

Distribution : Indo-Malesia

Habitat : Deciduous and mangrove forests, also planted as avenue tree

Uses : Biofuel. Oil is used in medicine for the treatment of rheumatism

Key Characters :

Pongamia pinnata are evergreen trees, surface grey, smooth. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate; leaflet, elliptic-lanceolate, margin entire. Flowers bisexual, purplish-white, in lax axillary racemes. Calyx tube campanulate; minutely 5 toothed, apex truncate; corolla exserted. Petals 5. Stamens 10, monadelphous. Ovary subsessile, inferior, 1-celled, ovules 2. Fruit a pod, obliquely oblong, flat, thick.