Poona Oil Tree, Pongamia
Millettia pinnata

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree up to 15-25 m high and 45 cm across the trunk. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is soft and greyish green. It is smooth or covered with rounded swellings. The leaves are alternate and compound with 3 or more leaflets. There is a leaflet at the end. They are smooth and pointed at the tip. They are 7 to 10 cm long. The leaves have a bitter smell when squashed. The flowers are purplish and about 1.5 cm long in racemes. The pods are oval and with one seed. The pod tapers on both sides to sharp points. The seeds are kidney shaped.

There is only one Pongamia species. It grows in the tropics. It is used in medicine. Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre is an accepted name while Pongamia pinnata (L.) Merrill is unresolved.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can grow on a wide range of well-drained soils. They are found along the coastal regions from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao in the Philippines. In Samoa it grows from sea level to 100 m altitude. In India it grows along the banks of streams. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It is salt tolerant. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andaman Islands, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, East Timor, Fiji, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, USA

How it is used for food

The seeds are edible cooked. CAUTION: It is probably poisonous with a toxin which causes vomiting. The seeds have a bitter oil.

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Plants are fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Bangkong, Bangkongan, Gaanuga, Honge, Indian Beech, Jadar, Kachang kayu laut, Karanj, Karanj, Karanja, Karchaw, Karum oil tree, Kepik, Ki pahang, Koranjo, Mabai, Malapari, Paphri, Pari-pari, Pawda paki, Pita-qaria, Ponga, Pongam, Pongamia, Pungu, Punnu, Ra yot, Sukhchein

Synonyms

Cytisus pinnata L.; Pongamia glabra Ventenat; Pongamia mitis Kurz; Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre; Derris indica (Lamk.) Bennet; Galedupa indica Lamk.; and several others