Prosopis cineraria
Prosopis cineraria | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
Genus: | Prosopis |
Species: | P. cineraria
|
Binomial name | |
Prosopis cineraria | |
Synonyms | |
Adenanthera aculeata Roxb.[1] |
Prosopis cineraria, also known as ghaf, is a species of
The ʿGhaf is the national tree of the United Arab Emirates. Through the Give a Ghaf campaign its citizens are urged to plant it in their gardens to combat desertification and to preserve their country's heritage.[3] The desert village of Nazwa in the UAE is home to the Al Ghaf Conservation Reserve.[4]
Prosopis cineraria is also the state tree of
In 1730 AD, the village of
Description
P. cineraria is a small tree, ranging in height from 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft). The leaves are bipinnate, with seven to fourteen leaflets on each of one to three pinnae. Branches are thorned along the internodes. Flowers are small and creamy-yellow and followed by seeds in pods. The tree is found in extremely arid conditions, with rainfall as low as 15 cm (5.9 in) annually; but is indicative of the presence of a deep water table. As with some other Prosopis spp., P. cineraria has demonstrated a tolerance of highly alkaline and saline environments.[7]
The tree should not be confused with the similar-looking Chinese lantern tree, Dichrostachys cinerea. They can be told apart by the flowers. While the Chinese lantern tree has bicolored pink-yellow flowers, the true Shami tree has yellow-colored bristled flowers only, like most other mesquites.[citation needed]
Religious significance
This tree is highly revered among Hindus and worshipped as part of
The tree is known by different names across the western and northern regions of India, e.g. Shami in
In
In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas spent their thirteenth year of exile in disguise in the kingdom of Virata. Before going to Virata, they hung their celestial weapons in this tree for safekeeping for a year. When they returned after a year, they found their weapons safe in the branches of the Shami tree. Before taking the weapons, they worshipped the tree and thanked it for keeping their weapons safe.[23][10][20][13][19][22][excessive citations]
Culinary uses
-
Popular Thari dish Singhrian jo Raabro (Khaatiyo)
In Thar desert the Singhri or Sangri pods growing on Prosopis cineraria is used in various types of Bhaaji and Kadhi. Singhri is one of the traditional cuisines of the Thar Desert[24]
Medical use
Extract from unripe fruit pods of the plant was shown to ameliorate artificially-induced damage to testes in an animal model.[25] Leaves of this tree can ameliorate mouth ulcers. Chewing its leaves for a few minutes, so releasing the juice of the leaves in the mouth can relieve the ulcers. The swelling comes down significantly. The juice is then spat out, rather than swallowed.[26]
References
- ^ a b c "Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce". Catalogue of Life. Integrated Taxonomic Information System and Species2000. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "Prosopis cineraria". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
- ^ Philp, Myra (17 June 2013). "UAE groups help to save ghaf trees on UN 'Combat Desertification Day'". 7DAYS in Dubai. Al Sidra Media. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "Six natural reserves declared in Dubai". The National. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
- ^ "What's common to jinka, paalapitta, jammi chettu and thangedu puvvu?". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Khejri, the tree that inspired Chipko movement, is dying a slow death". 4 December 2016.
- ^ "Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce". Tropical Forages. Centre for International Agriculture Research and Food and Agriculture Agency. 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- JSTOR 42594479.
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7167-005-5.
- ^ Babu N.M. Ganesh (2 May 2017). "Tree that hid Pandavas' weapons when they were in exile". The New Indian Express.
- ISBN 9789350671733.
- ^ a b c S. Sivapriyananda (1995). Mysore Royal Dasara. Abhinav Publications. pp. 51, 55.
- ^ a b L. Krishna Anantha Krishna Iyer (Diwan Bahadur); Nanjundayya Hebbalalu Velpanuru (Diwan Bahadur); H.V. Nanjundayya (1935). The Mysore tribes and castes. Mysore University. p. 68.
- ^ ISBN 978-0691120485.
- ISBN 978-0415939195.
- ^ a b Parsons, Constance (1930). Milford, Humphery (ed.). Mysore City. Oxford University Press. p. 184.
- ^ "Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society". Mythic Society. 32 (1): 309. 1941.
- ^ a b c Milton, Lawrence. "Why Dasara procession culminates at Bannimantap". Times of India.
- ^ a b Thurston, Edgar; K. Rangachari (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Madras Government Press. p. 147.
- ^ Smaranananda Swami (2001). Prabuddha Bharata: Or awakened India. Vol. 106. p. 49.
- ^ a b Bharata Prabuddha. "Mysore Dasara - a living tradition". Archived from the original on 7 March 2007.
- ISBN 9780143066262.
- ^ Khaskheli, Jan. "Bountiful desert". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- S2CID 220075154.
- ISBN 9781003277408.)
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External links
- Media related to Prosopis cineraria at Wikimedia Commons
- The wonders of the ‘wonder tree’, Tribune India
- Meet the Ghaf Tree