Prosopis cineraria
{{Short description|Species of legume}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2022}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Khejri.jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Prosopis
| species = cineraria
Mimosa cineraria L.
Prosopis spicigera L.{{GRIN | access-date=2009-12-31}}
}}
Prosopis cineraria, also known as Persian mesquite or ghaf, is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is native to arid portions of Western Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, India, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Its leaves are bipinnate. It can survive extreme drought. It is an established introduced species in parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.{{Dead link|date=April 2023}}
The ghaf 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 preserve their country's heritage.{{cite news|url=http://www.7daysindubai.com/UAE-groups-help-save-ghaf-trees-Combat/story-19300102-detail/story.html|title=UAE groups help to save ghaf trees on UN 'Combat Desertification Day'|last=Philp|first=Myra|date=2013-06-17|newspaper=7DAYS in Dubai|access-date=2018-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012075247/http://www.7daysindubai.com/UAE-groups-help-save-ghaf-trees-Combat/story-19300102-detail/story.html|archive-date=2013-10-12|url-status=dead|publisher=Al Sidra Media}} The desert village of Nazwa in the UAE is home to the Al Ghaf Conservation Reserve.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/six-natural-reserves-declared-in-dubai-1.247444|title=Six natural reserves declared in Dubai|work=The National|access-date=2018-09-09|language=en}}
Prosopis cineraria is also the state tree of Rajasthan (where it is known as khejri), Western Uttar Pradesh (where it is known as chhonkara) and Telangana (where it is known as jammi{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/What%E2%80%99s-common-to-jinka-paalapitta-jammi-chettu-and-thangedu-puvvu/article11013542.ece|title=What's common to jinka, paalapitta, jammi chettu and thangedu puvvu?|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en}}) in India. A large and well-known example of the species is the Tree of Life in Bahrain; it is approximately 400 years old and growing in a desert devoid of any obvious sources of water.
In 1730 AD, the village of Khejarli near Jodhpur in Rajasthan was the scene of a violent environmental confrontation. Amrita Devi and her three young daughters gave their lives in an attempt to protect some khejri trees which Maharaja Abhay Singh had ordered cut to make way for his new palace. This led to widespread defiance in which 363 people were killed trying to save the trees. In the 1970s, the memory of this sacrifice led to the start of the Chipko movement.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/khejri-the-tree-that-inspired-chipko-movement-is-dying-a-slow-death-4409701/|title = Khejri, the tree that inspired Chipko movement, is dying a slow death|date = 4 December 2016}}
Description
P. cineraria is a small tree, ranging in height from {{convert|3–5|m|abbr=on}}. 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 {{convert|15|cm|abbr=on}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/DATA/PF000371.HTM |title=Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce |work=Tropical Forages |publisher=Centre for International Agriculture Research and Food and Agriculture Agency |year=2005 |access-date=2012-03-21 |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024213136/http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/DATA/PF000371.HTM |url-status=dead }}
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|date=May 2022}}
Religious significance
This tree is highly revered among Hindus and worshipped as part of Dusshera festival.{{cite journal |first=S.M. |last=Edwards |title=Tree-worship in India |journal=Empire Forestry Journal |date=March 1922 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=78–86 |jstor=42594479}} This tree takes importance during the tenth day of the Dasara Festival when it is celebrated in various parts of India. Historically, among the Rajputs, the ranas – who were the high priest and the king – used to conduct the worship and then to liberate a jay which was the sacred bird of Lord Rama.{{cite journal |first=W. |last=Crooke |title=The Dasahra: An Autumn festival of Hindus |journal=Folklore |year=1915 |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=28–59 |doi=10.1080/0015587X.1915.9719701 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1429971 }}{{rp|29–30}}{{cite book |last1=Gandhi |first1=Maneka |last2=Singh |first2=Yasmeen |title=Brahma's hair – Mythology of Indian plants |url=https://archive.org/details/brahmashaironmyt00gand |url-access=limited |year=1989 |publisher=Rupa & Co. |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7167-005-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/brahmashaironmyt00gand/page/n61 29]–32}} In the Deccan, as part of the tenth-day ritual of Dussahera, the marathas used to shoot arrows onto the crown of the tree and gather the falling leaves into their turbans.{{rp|36–37}}
The tree is known by different names across the western and northern regions of India, e.g. shami in Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra & Uttar Pradesh, jammi in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh, khijro in Gujarat, khejri in Rajasthan, janti in Haryana, and jand in the Punjab.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
In Karnataka, Acacia ferruginea has also been locally referred to as Banni mara instead of the accepted Khejri tree, and accepted as the tree where the Pandavas hid their weapons during exile.{{cite news |author=Babu N.M. Ganesh |title=Tree that hid Pandavas' weapons when they were in exile |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/may/02/tree-that-hid-pandavas-weapons-when-they-were-in-exile-1600285.html |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=2017-05-02 |df=dmy-all}} There are also some unconfirmed references which consider Acacia ferruginea as the tree which is revered and worshipped on Vijay Dashami day.{{cite book |author=S.G. Neginhal |title=Forest Trees of the Western Ghats |year=2011 |publisher=S.G. Neginhal |isbn=9789350671733 |page=133}} However, according to historical references, Prosopis cineraria is known as the Banni mara,{{cite book |author=S. Sivapriyananda |title=Mysore Royal Dasara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVkyFvZL_qMC |year=1995 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |pages=51, 55}}{{cite book |author1=L. Krishna Anantha Krishna Iyer (Diwan Bahadur) |author2=Nanjundayya Hebbalalu Velpanuru (Diwan Bahadur) |author3=H.V. Nanjundayya |title=The Mysore tribes and castes |year=1935 |publisher=Mysore University |page=68 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4SmRnQEACAAJ&q=Mysore+tribes+and+castes+volume+2}}{{cite book |last=Fuller |first=Christopher John |title=The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and society in India |year=2004 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691120485 |page=121 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=To6XSeBUW3oC}}{{cite book |last1=Claus |first1=Peter |last2=Diamond |first2=Sarah |last3=Mills |first3=Margaret |title=South Asian Folklore: An encyclopedia |series=Special Reference |year=2003 |isbn=978-0415939195 |page=536 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ienxrTPHzzwC}}{{cite book |author-last=Parsons |author-first=Constance |title=Mysore City |year=1930 |editor-last=Milford |editor-first=Humphery |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/MysoreCity1930/page/n255 184] |url=https://archive.org/details/MysoreCity1930}}{{cite journal |title=Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society |journal=Mythic Society |year=1941 |volume=32 |issue=1 |page=309 |url=https://archive.org/details/TheQuarterlyJournalOfTheMythicSociety}}{{cite news |last=Milton |first=Lawrence |title=Why Dasara procession culminates at Bannimantap |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Why-Dasara-procession-culminates-at-Bannimantap/articleshow/16897375.cms |newspaper=Times of India}}{{cite book |author1=Thurston, Edgar |author2=K. Rangachari |title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India |url=https://archive.org/details/castestribesofso01thuruoft |year=1909 |page=[https://archive.org/details/castestribesofso01thuruoft/page/147 147]|publisher=Madras Government Press }} and holds a special place in the Mysore Dasara, where its worshipped on the Vijay-dashami day.{{cite book |author=Smaranananda Swami |title=Prabuddha Bharata: Or awakened India |year=2001 |volume=106 |page=49 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tLkoAAAAYAAJ&q=mysore+dasara+prabuddha}}{{cite web |author=Bharata Prabuddha |title=Mysore Dasara - a living tradition |url=http://www.esamskriti.com/html/inside.asp?cat=441&subcat=440&cname=mysodasa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307104723/http://www.esamskriti.com/html/inside.asp?cat=441&subcat=440&cname=mysodasa |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-03-07 |df=dmy-all}}
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.{{cite book |author1=Krishna Nanditha |author2=M. Amirthalingam |title=Sacred Plants of India |year=2014 |publisher=Penguin books India |isbn=9780143066262 |pages=171–175 |edition=1st}}{{excessive citations inline|date=June 2023}}
Culinary uses
File:Singhrian ji Bhaaji.jpg|alt=Singhrian ji Bhaaji prepared in Tanay:The Great, Sindh|Singhrian ji Bhaaji prepared in Tharparkar, Sindh
File:Singhrian jo Raabro(Khaatiyo).jpg|alt=Popular Thari dish Singhrian jo Raabro(Khaatiyo)|Popular Thari dish Singhrian jo Raabro (Khaatiyo)
In Thar Desert the singhri or sangri pods growing on Prosopis cineraria are used in various types of bhaaji and kadhi. Singhri is one of the traditional cuisines of the Thar Desert.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/money-matters/118413-Bountiful-desert|title=Bountiful desert|last=Khaskheli|first=Jan|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en|access-date=2019-09-20}}
Medical use
Extract from unripe fruit pods of the plant was shown to ameliorate artificially-induced damage to testes in an animal model.{{cite journal |last1=Ramalingam S |first1=Logeshwaran |last2=Vellapandian |first2=Chitra |last3=R Vetrivelan |first3=Venkataramanan |last4=Sukumaran |first4=Evelyn Sharon |title=Un-riped[sic] fruit pods of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce ameliorates Cisplatin therapy-induced partial testicular atrophy in male Wistar rats |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |date=October 2020 |volume=261 |pages=113070 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2020.113070 |pmid=32585233 |s2cid=220075154 }}
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.{{cite book |last1=Upadhya |first1=Tarun Kumar |last2=7 others |first2=and |title=Medicinal Plants |date=2022 |publisher=Taylor and Francis, Apple Academic Press |isbn=9781003277408 |pages=15 |edition=1st |chapter=Prosopis Cineraria (Khejri): Ethanopharmacology and Phytochemistry}}
References
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External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020928/windows/main2.htm The wonders of the ‘wonder tree’], Tribune India
- [http://www.goumbook.com/give-a-ghaf Meet the Ghaf Tree]
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Category:Drought-tolerant trees
Category:Flora of the Arabian Peninsula
Category:Flora of the Indian subcontinent
Category:Flora of Western Asia