Botanical Name - Pongamia glabra

----- Pongamia, Vent.; F.B.I., II-239. P. glabra, Vent.; F.B.I. II-240. Brandi's Ind. Trees, 243. Gamble's Ind. Timbers, 262. Vern. Karanj, Hind. Mar. Kangu, Tel.

----- A moderate-sized almost evergreen tree. Bark greyish-brown covered with tubercels. Leaves imparipinnate, glabrous, bright green, Leaflets opposite, without stipels, 2-3 pairs, ovate, shortly-acuminate, 2-5 in. long. Flowers on slender pubescent pedicels, white and purple in axillary racemes, shorter than leaf. Corolla 1/2 in. Stamens monadelphous, the 10th filament free at the base, in the middle connate with the rest. Pod indehiscent, turgid, almost woody, more or less alcate, 1-seeded, 1 1/2 - 2 in. long; seed oily.

----- A very graceful tree commonly found in all the Hyderabad forest, chiefly along the banks of streams and rivers and in suitable places it attains a height of 30-40 ft. It is doubtless wild and indigenous and not an introduced plant or an escape from cultivation, as has been supposed, and this view is supported by Gamble in " Manual of Indian Timbers." and also by Brandis in " Indian Trees." It is, however, very largely cultivated the, broughs and leaves being extensively used as a strong manures, for sugarcane especially. It is excellent for avenues and gardens. In good soil it growsfast and attains a large size and has beautiful glossy green leaves almost all the year round, but it tends to branch very soon and requires to be carefully pruned of its lower branches, so as to give it a proper bole. Its wood is white and firm and is put to many uses by the natives, but is mostly used for firewood, as it is very liable to the attacks of insects. A thick red-brown oil is expressed from the seeds and is used medicinally for itch and other cutaneous diseases, and is also employed as a lamp-oil. Its leaves and pods are sold in the bazaars are medicine. The tree is easily grown from cuttings.