Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce ('khejri') is an extremely important tree of arid India. Due to obligate outcrossing, large variability exists in chemical contents of pod and foliage of this species. Pod content of 8 provenances collected from 15.5° to 29.1°N latitude in India showed significant variation (p<0.05) from 8 to 13% for protein, 40 to 55% for carbohydrates, 8 to 15% for sugar and 9 to 12% for crude fibre. When these 8 provenances were grown at Hisar, (India), the foliage content of 15 months and 27 months old plants, also showed wide variation. The ranking of the provenance however, changed with age. Himatnagar provenance from west India showed the maximum crude protein up to 15.9% and calcium up to 2.4%, and the Gulbera provenance from south India had the minimum protein and calcium contents. Green and unripe pods, known as 'Sangri', are used as vegetable and in the preparation of curries and pickles. The dry pods, known as 'Khokha' are used as an emergency food and help in preventing protein-calorie malnutrition. The powdered flowers mixed with sugar are used by women to safeguard themselves against miscarriage during pregnancy, and the flowers are used as a tonic for blood purifier and in the skin diseases.
The results are important for selection of superior provenances for medicinal and food value of pods, and feed value of foliage.
Key words: Prosopsis cineraria, medicinal value, India.
Correspondence: O.P. Toky, Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125 004, India
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