Mahua or Indian Butter Tree

Madhuca longifolia

Name

Marathi: मोह

Biological Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Spermatophyta
Sub-Division: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Sub-Class: Gamopetalae
Series: Heteromerae
Order: Ebenales
Family: Sapotaceae
Sub-Family: --
Genus: Madhuca
Species: longifolia

Advantages

  • The flowers are distilled for preparation of country liquor.
  • The seeds are crushed to yield an oil which is used for soap making, also edible, and the oilcake is used to poison the fish.

Interesting Facts

The scientific name comes from Sanskrit word "Madhu" which means honey, as the flowers have sweet nectaries.

Description

  • It is a large tree with short trunk and rounded crown.
  • It flowers in the months of March-April.
  • Madhuca longifolia (L.) J. F. Macbr.