Kavalama urens
(Roxb.) Raf.
Indian Tragacanth, Karaya pejuh tree
Wikimedia Commons - gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Gum, Roots, Seeds-coffee
A natural gum known as gum karaya is exuded by the tree when the bark is damaged. This valuable substance is traditionally tapped by cutting or peeling back the bark, or by making deep gashes at the base of the trunk with an axe. Such crude methods of extraction often kill the tree, but it has been found that application of the plant growth regulator ethephon stimulates the production of gum, and when used in carefully controlled amounts, increases gum yield and enhances healing of the wounds. Karaya gum swells when it absorbs water and is used as a laxative because adds bulk to the contents of the intestine, stimulating the gut to expel waste material. Karaya gum is also reputed to have aphrodisiacal properties, but there is insufficient evidence to support this. Other uses for the gum are as a thickener in cosmetics and medications, and as an adhesive for dentures. In manufacturing, it is added as a binder, emulsifier and stabiliser in the preparation of beverages and foods. The seeds are roasted and eaten.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. They grow on rocky exposures. It grows between 300-705 m above sea level.
Africa, Asia, Australia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
How to Identify
A medium sized tree. It grows to 10 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is white or pink and papery. The leaves are large and have 5 lobes. They are soft and velvety. They are 30-45 cm long. The stalk is as long as the leaf. The flowers are green or yellow with a purple throat. They are star shaped. They are strong smelling and sticky. They occur in clusters. The fruit consist of 5 boat shaped woody fruitlets from one flower. They are crimson velvet when young. They turn woody brown when old. The hairs are bristly and stinging. The seed are black.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Production
The fruit are available December to May in India.
Notes
Also put in the family Sterculiaceae. NB The Plant list has this as an accepted name with no synonyms. It has Sterculia urens as a synonym of Firmiana urens.
Names & Synonyms
Errapunikichetti, Genduli, Gular, Gulu, Hatchanda, Kadhai, Kagdol, Kahandol, Kandol, Karai, Karangli, Karaya gum, Katira, Kavalam, Kavili, Kempudale, Kharu, Kudu, Kulu, Odla, Pang-khau, Pangkhau, Shahada, Tabsu, Thondi
References (21)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 601 (As Sterculia urens)
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 950 (As Sterculia urens)
- Bole, P.V., & Yaghani, Y., 1985, Field Guide to the Common Trees of India. OUP p 67 (As Sterculia urens)
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 239 (As Sterculia urens)
- GAMMIE, (As Sterculia urens)
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 635 (As Sterculia urens)
- Janaki, B. & R. B. Sashidhar, 1998, Physico-chemical analysis of gum kondagogu (Cochlospermum gossypium): a potential food additive. Food Chemistry, Vol. 61, No. 1/2, pp. 231-236 (As Sterculia urens)
- Kar, A., et al, 2013, Wild Edible Plant Resources used by the Mizos of Mizoram, India. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology. Vol. 9, No. 1, July, 2013, 106-126 (As Sterculia urens)
- Kuvar, S. D. & Shinde, R. D., 2019, Wild Edible Plants used by Kokni Tribe of Nasik District, Maharashtra. Journal of Global Biosciences. Volume 8, Number 2, 2019, pp. 5936-5945 (As Sterculia urens)
- Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 80
- Menninger, E.A., 1977, Edible Nuts of the World. Horticultural Books. Florida p 43 (As Sterculia urens)
- Misra S. & Misra M., 2016, Ethnobotanical and Nutritional Evaluation of Some Edible Fruit Plants of Southern Odisha, India. International Journal of Advances in Agricultural Science and Technology, Vol.3 Issue.1, March- 2016, pg. 1-30
- Pl. Coromandel 1:25, t. 24. 1795 (As Sterculia urens)
- Purseglove, J.W., 1968, Tropical Crops Dicotyledons, Longmans. p 564 (As Sterculia urens)
- Sahni, K.C., 2000, The Book of Indian Trees. Bombay Natural History Society. Oxford. p 44 (As Sterculia urens)
- Shah, G.L., 1984, Some economically important plant of Salsette Island near Bombay. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol. 5 No. 4 pp 753-765 (As Sterculia urens)
- Sharma, B.D., & Lakshminarasimhan, P., 1986, Ethnobotanical Studies on the Tribals of Nasik District (Maharashtra). J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol. 8 No. 2 pp 439-446 (As Sterculia urens)
- Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 83 (As Sterculia urens)
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 525 (As Sterculia urens)
- Tanaka, (As Sterculia urens)
- Wickens, G.E., 1995, Edible Nuts. FAO Non-wood forest products. FAO, Rome. p157 (As Sterculia urens)
