Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (FABACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Indian Beech, Pongam Oiltree, Mempari

Description

Deciduous tree to 15 m tall with short stout trunk and spreading branches. Leaves pinnate with 2(-3) pairs of leaflets with terminal leaflet, 15-30 cm long. Flowers in slender racemes at leaf axils, 1.2-1.5 cm long, white to lilac. Fruits 4-8 cm long, oblong with short curved tip.


Ecology

Common along coasts and riverbanks.

Distribution

Occurs naturally or locally naturalised from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka throughout SE Asia to N Australia, Fiji and Japan.

Uses

Frequently planted as an ornamental.