MOHWA [AN IMPORTANT TREE]

THE MOHWA IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT OF INDIAN TREES,NOT FOR ITS TIMBER BUT BECAUSE OF ITS DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIVE FLOWERS. TO THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL INDIA IT PROVIDES THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTICLE OF FOOD AS THE FLOWERS CAN BE STORED ALMOST INDEFINITELY.

THE MOHWA TREE HAS A LARGE THICK GREY BARK.MOST OF THE LEAVES FALL FROM FEBRUARY TO APRIL AND DURING THAT TIME THE SCENTED FLOWERS APPEAR HANGING IN CLOSE BUNCHES OF A DOZEN OR SO.IT IS AT NIGHT THAT THE  TREE BLOOMS AND AT DAWN EACH SHORT-LIVED FLOWER FALLS TO THE GROUND. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE FLOWERING PERIOD, THE FRUIT OPENS. THEY ARE FLESHY GREEN BERRIES, QUITE LARGE AND CONTAIN FROM ONE TO FOUR SHINY , BROWN SEEDS. THE GATHERING OF THE EDIBLE MOHWA FLOWERS IS AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO THE COUNTRY PEOPLE. BELOW THE TREE THE GROUND IS CLEARED AND SWEPT AND DAWN BLOOMS ARE  COLLECTED AND ALLOWED TO DRY OUT ON THE FLATTENED EARTH. THE FLOWERS TASTE SOMETHING LIKE PRESSED FIGS ,SUGAR ,PUDDINGS AND OTHER SWEETMEATS ARE MADE FROM THEM. ALL PARTS OF THE FRUITS,BOTH RIPE AND UNRIPE ARE USED.A THICK OIL IS EXTRACTED FROM  THE KENNELS WHICH BEING YELLOWISH, GIVES IT THE NAME OF BUTTER TREE. THE OIL IS USED FOR COOKING, MAKING SOAP AND CANDLES. ANIMALS PARTICULARLY DEER AND BEARS LOVE THE FLOWERS AND DON'T MIND RISKING THE VIGILANT NIGHT E GUARDS. PEAFOWLS CAN BE SEEN AROUND THE TREES AT SUNSET AND DAWN.
CUT FLOWERS AND BRANCHES EXUDE A THICK MILKY SAP GOOD FOR CURING RHEUMATISM.THE WOOD IS HARD  AND HEAVY,WORKS EASILY AND MAKES GOOD FURNITURE. THE BARK IS USED TO CURE LEPROSY AND TO HEAL WOUNDS. TH E FLOWERS RELIEVE COUGHS, BILIOUSNESS AND HEART TROUBLE AND THE FRUITS CURE CONSUMPTION AND  BLOOD  DISEASES.