CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

JUNGLE JALEBI

Pithecellobium dulce(Robx.)

Botanical name	: Pithecellobium dulce (Robx.)
Synonym	: Mimosa dulcis Roxb.
Vernacular name	: Jungle jalebi / Vilayati babul
Family	: Fabaceae (Mimosoideae)
About the Tree	: A spiny large deciduous tree with a broad, spreading crown, commonly clipped down to form a dense, beautiful hedge. It is an evergreen tree Originally from tropical and subtropical America (South West USA, North West Mexico, Central and Southern America) widely distributed in the greater part of India and is also found in Southeast Asia.
Height	: 5 -20 m
Bark	: Short, stout, greyish bark becoming rough, then furrowed (30-100 cm in diameter)
Leaf	: Leaves are paripinnate with one single pair of pinnae and one single pair of leaflets per pinna, leaflets are 2.0-3.5 cm long x 1.0-1.5 cm wide. There are small thorns 2.0-15.0 mm long in axillary pairs inserted on each side of the leaves' pedicels. Thorn less individuals do occur. Leaves are deciduous but foliage is persistent, as the new leaves appear while the old ones are being shed, so that the tree looks like an evergreen.
Flower	: The inflorescences are axillary panicles which bear spherical slightly fragrant, round, woolly glomerules (1 cm in diameter) with long dirty white stamens.
Fruits	: Fruit is slightly flattened indehiscent pod10-15 cm long x 1-2 cm wide, becoming tightly coiled as it matures, green tinged with red and set in a spiral of 1 to 3 whorls. The pods contain 10 seeds. The seeds are flattened, black and shiny (1 cm in diameter)
Season	: Flowering occurs from March-Mid april. Fruit ripen in June.
Medicinal Properties Peculiar Character	: The bark of the plant is reported to be used as astringent in dysentery, febrifuge and it is also useful in dermatitis and eye inflammation. The leaves have been reported to possess abortificient, antidiabetic properties, emollient, anticonvulsant, and antiulcer. The leaves can be applied as plasters for pain and veneral sores. : In India it goes by the name "Madras thorn", although it is not native to Madras.