CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

KARANJ

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre

Botanical name	: Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre
Synonym	: Millettia pinnata (L.) Panigrahi
Vernacular name	: Karanj / Pongam Tree
Family	: Fabaceae ( Papilionoideae)
About the Tree	: A fast-growing tree, tall and is thought to have originated in India and is found throughout Asia. It is a deciduous tree with a large canopy that spreads equally wide.
Height	: Grows up to 15 to 25 m.
Bark	: Bark smooth and greyish brown. Bark 10-12 mm thick.
Leaf	: The alternate, compound, imparipinnate leaves consist of 5 or 7 leaflets which are arranged in 2 or 3 pairs, and a single terminal leaflet. Leaflets are 5 to 10 cm long, 4 to 6 cm wide, and pointed at the tip, elliptic-acuminate, elliptic-lanceolate, ovate or ovate-oblong in Shape, margin entire, glabrous.
Flower	: Small clusters of white, purple, and pink flowers, maturing into brown seed pods. Flowers are bisexual, 15-18 mm long, in axillary racemes, bracteoles ovate. Calyx campanulate purplish, corolla pinkish-white, standard sub orbicular, wings obliquely oblong, keel obtuse, stamens 10, monadelphous, anthers versatile. Ovary 2-ovuled, style incurved.
Fruits	: Fruit is a pod, 4-5 x 2-2.5 cm, obliquely oblong, flat, thick, pointed at both ends, indehiscent, slightly falcate, seed one, reniform.
Season	: Leaf Fall, December-February .Flowering, April-June. Fruiting, February-May
Medicinal Properties Peculiar Character	: Pongamia seeds and oil is anthelmintic, insecticidal, nematicidal and bactericidal. It is useful in rheumatism arthritis, whooping cough, skin alinments and scabies. Seed oil is mainly used in cosmetics, in soap making and as a lubricant. Bark is anthelmintic and used in pesticides. The bark also yields a black gum that is used to treat wounds caused by poisonous fish. : Pongamia Pinnata trees are normally planted along the highways, roads and canals to stop soil erosion. Fruit oil is the best oil for lighting.