Ougeinia oojeinensis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It often has a crooked trunk. The bark is scaly like crocodile skin. It has a red gum when cut. It grows about 10 m high. The leaves are 8-20 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. They are bright green above and have pale dots underneath. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The flowers are pale pink or white. They are in dense round clusters. They are produced on the old wood. The flowers are in groups of 3 and the petals are thick and fleshy. The fruit is a narrow pod. It is 5-10 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. There are 2-5 seeds. These are 1 cm wide and smooth and brown. Seed germinate on the parent plant. The fruit is sweet and edible.

There are 2 Ougeinia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows along the waters edge and forms thick impenetrable belts. It grows between 700-1,200 m above sea level in the Himalayas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten boiled. They are mixed with rice.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. These germinate on the tree and grown in the mud.

Its other names

Local names

Bandhona, Banjan, Kala palas, Kalaphulas, Kari-honne, Kurimutal, Malavenna, Narivengai, Panan, Pandan tinsa, Panjan, Ruta, Sandan pipli,Sandan, Sar, Tanach, Tella motuku, Tinas, Tinis, Tinisha, Tinsa, Tiwas

Synonyms

Dalbergia oogeinsis Roxb.; Ougeinia dalbergioides Benth.;