The Khejri tree is native to arid regions (dry and sand soil type) of West Asia and the Indian subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Since its introduction, it has become naturalized in parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.
It is the national tree of the United Arab Emirates, where it is known as Ghaf, and it is the state tree of Rajasthan in India. Among the longest-lived Ghaf trees is the ‘Tree of Life’ in Bahrain, which is over 400 years old and grows in the desert without any known source of water.
The khejri tree is a major component of the vegetation system and one of the main sources of feed, timber and fuel. The pods of this tree are used as a vegetable. It improves soil fertility since it is a legume. This tree is well adapted to the arid conditions and is resistant to the adverse effects of climate change and animal browsing.
Taxonomy of Khejri tree
Class : Dicotyledons Subclass : Polypetalae Series : Calyciflorae Order : Rosales Family : Fabaceae
Scientific name of Khejri tree
Prosopis cineraria
The oldest name for this species is mimosa cineraria Linn. Sp. PI. 517, 1753. Later the tree was considered under the genus Prosopis and renamed as Prosopis spicigora Linn. mant. 68, 1767; F1.Brit. _India 2: 288, 1878.
In the end, as per the code of Botanical Nomenclature, Macbride (1919) validated the tree under the genus Prosopis and species cineraria and again renamed it Prosopis cineraria (Linn.) Macbridc (reference Contrib. Gay. Herb. n.s. LIX, 16 (1919).
Other common names of Khejri tree
Hindi and Indian local languages: Khejadi tree, Shami tree, Sami tree, Banni tree, Safed Kikar, Sual tree, Agnigarbha, Jant, Janti, Sangri, Chhonkara, Jand, Kandi, Banni, Vanni, Perumbe, Kiribanni, Kiru banni, Parambai,
Arabic: Ghaf tree
Telugu : Jammi chettu
English : Spunge tree
Other : Mimosa suma, Acacia suma
Physical and morphological characteristics of Khejri tree
Its pretty simple to identify a Khejri tree. Khejri tree is a medium-sized thorny, irregularly branching, evergreen tree with a thin open crown and slender branches armed along the internodes with conical or curving prickles on a wide base. It can grow up to 6.5 m tall.
The inequitable bole can have a diameter of up to 30 cm. The tree can reach deep water tables because of its extensive root system, hence enabling it to access water which other plants can not.
The leaves of khejri tree are alternate, bipinnate and bluish-green in colour. Generally, the leaves of this tree occur in 2-3 pairs of opposite pinnae, and each pinnae consists of 3-5 cm long 7-14 leaflets. The leaflets are dark green, sub sessile, oblong, with an obliquely rounded base, and muconate at the apex.
The flowers of khejri tree are yellow or creamy-white in colour which grow in pedunculate, slender axillary spikes, 5–13 cm long. Every flower contains obscurely 5-lobed calyx ; 5 small, oblong petals with re-curved tips; 10 stamens with glands. The pods are 14–25 cm long, leathery slender, drooping, cylindrical filled with dry, sweetish pulp, constricted between 10–15 oblong and brown seeds.
Mythological and religious significance of Khejri tree
The sanskrit name of the khejri tree is “Sami” or “Shami“. Some of the European Sanskrit scholars have, however, referred to it as Mimosa suma and Acacia suma, after referring to scriptures (Monier-Williams, 1899). Khejri is described as possessing an extremely tough hand Wood, and is supposed to contain fire (Manu Smriti, Viii, 247; Raghuwansa, iii, 9). In sanskrit it is also called as “Agnigarbha” because of its association with fire.
Hindu societies in India regard the khejri tree as sacred. As part of many festivals, it is worshipped by people and has a religious significance.
In ancient Vedic times, Khejri wood was used mostly for lighting Yagna’s sacred fire (also known as yajna/yajña/yagya). The fire was created by rubbing two pieces of hard wood together in order to create the flame, namely one piece of khejri and the other piece of Peepal or Aswattha (Ficus religiosa).
The reference to this tree has been found in Rig Veda and Atharv Veda.
Khejri is also mentioned in the Mahabharata and Ramayana. In the story, Arjuna had to go into hiding (i.e., a year of concealed exile-13th year) with his Pandava brothers, and he hid his bow, named Gandiva (Arjuna’s bow), in the hollow stem of a Khejri tree i.e. “banni tree“.
Khejri has been mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana along with other trees that grow on the hills of Panchvati. Lakshman used branches of the Khejri tree for the thatched hut-Parnakuti, where he along with Lord Rama and his wife Sita stayed during their 14-year exile. Lord Rama also worshiped this tree after slaying Ravana.
Economic importance and use of Khejri tree
From root to pod, every part of the tree has some use.
Its status as the ‘state tree’ of Rajasthan underlines its significance. It is called the ‘kalpavriksha of the desert’ since all parts of khejri are useful. As well as being known as the ‘king of the desert’, it is also known as the ‘wonder tree’.
It is one of the symbols of socio-economic development in the area. Typically, desert dwellers consider this tree to be their lifeline and a species they prefer. Khejri has been the most common agroforestry species for centuries due to its multiple benefits and uses.
TheKhejri tree provides wood suitable for construction. For house-building, it is commonly used as rafters, posts scantlings, doors and windows, and for well construction, as upright posts of Persian wheels, agricultural implements and shafts, as well as spokes, fellows, and yokes of carts.
This tree is a great fodder tree providing cattle feed for camels, cattle, sheep, and goats with nutritious, highly palatable green and dry fodder. During the winter months when there is no other green fodder available in the dry areas, khejri trees are heavily lopped.
The leaves, high in nutritive value, are locally called “loong” and constitute a major portion of the feed requirement of desert livestock.
Khejri tree also acts as a natural habitat and shelter for many insects like honey bees, ants, beetles and birds like Cicadas and weaver birds.
Khejri tree provides high quality fuel wood.
Since Khejri is a nitrogen-fixing tree it contributes in enhancing the fertility of the soil. A variety of crops can be sown under and around it.
Khejri is an effective windbreak that protects farmland from the desert winds when planted along the perimeter.
Furthermore, it provides a rich source of bio-matter to the soil when it sheds its leaves.
Fencing materials can be made from the broken branches.
The fruit of the khejri tree is green unripe pods, and locally known as “sangria” or “sangar“. Dry green beans from khejri are used throughout the year for cooking. Panchkuta, a local dish made from five vegetables, contains this vegetable as one of its ingredients. The pods are rich in protein and are also used in making pickles.
Known as kho-kha in the local dialect, dried mature pods are also edible and have a sweet pulp.
When famines hit in 1899 and 1939, even the bark, which is astringent and bitter, was eaten.
In May and June, the gum of the tree can be harvested which is nutritive and good to eat.
According to Ayurveda, symptomatic treatment of scorpion and snake bites can be achieved with the bark extract of this tree.
The roots of the tree are used for making cot frames, handle for agricultural implements. The root is stronger wood and less prone to insect damage compared to the stem.
In dry areas, Khejri trees act as windbreaks and shelterbelts and stabilize shifting sand dunes. The animals are protected from hot and cold winds and shifting dunes by this sort of function. This is the only Tree species which provide much needed shade and Shelter for the farmers and their cattle during the summer Months.
