Species available for adoption under ‘Adopt a Tree’ Campaign
Tree names and their uses*.
- Neem - Most parts of the tree are credited with medicinal value.
- Jamun – Fruit has lots of medicinal values and good to eat too!
- Kaniar – The astringent bark is employed for tanning, dying and rope-making. The root and flowers are used in traditional medicines.
- Jungle Jalebi – The leaves and pods are excellent animal fodder. It makes an excellent ‘living fence’ that can withstand any amount of coppicing.
- Pilkhan - The leaves make an excellent fodder, particularly beloved by elephants, its quality of being quick grower and providing ample shade make the Pilkhan much used avenue tree.
- Papdi - A variable one stop pharmacy credited with an astonishing range of remedies in folk medicine. There is also a recent interest in its potential as a bio-fuel.
- Kachnar – The leaves are a good fodder, the flowers and especially the buds are eaten as a vegetable.
- Bael – Much preferred summer drink is made of the fruit, the seeds are encased in a strong-smelling pulp. Tree with great medicinal value, also considered sacred.
- Shisham – One of the finest all-round timbers of India. Shisham is planted to reclaim eroding sites and as a windbreak.
- Katsagon (Marodphali)– Used as an avenue tree as it’s a fast growing tree.
- Goolar – Most parts of the tree are used in traditional healing. An astringent lotion made from the bark is credited in treating deep wounds inflicted by tiger claws!
- Harshingar – Highly fragrant flowers are used as votive offering, its rough leaves were once used to impart a fine-grade polish to wood.
- Amaltas– Much sort after and widely cultivated for its arrestingly beautiful, drooping sprays of bright-yellow flowers. The bark is used as a tan and yields a red dye.
- Mahua – Arguably the most valuable of Indian trees. The flower is eaten raw, the seeds yield ‘mahua butter’.
- Imli – Its tart fruit is used in curies, chutneys, jams and sauces. High in Vitamin C, tartaric, malic and citric acids.
- Putranjiva – Makes one of the best clipped evergreen hedges of all Indian plants. Used in traditional medicines, the leaves make a good cattle fodder.
- Lasora– Its fruit like a pale cherry is pickled or eaten tender as a vegetable.
- Arjuna–The bark and leaves have astringent and purgative properties. Used to add ornamental value.
- Jatropha – It is widely grown in hot climates as a hedge and ornamental plant.
- Peepal – The root- bark is one of the five barks most valued by ancient Indian physicians. The juice of the bark is used as a mouthwash, for curing toothache and weak gums.
- Mehndi – Paste made of mehndi leaves is widely used by women on many occasions, also known as henna.
*uses of trees information compiled from book titled ‘Trees of Delhi’ a field guide by Pradip Krishen
Recommended Reading: A must read for all tree lovers ‘TREES of Delhi’ – A field guide by Pradip Krishen