Katuray

Katuray: Sesbania grandiflora

Botany
A tree, 5 to 12 meters high. Leaves are pinnate, 20-30 cm long with 20 to 40 pairs of leaflets which are 2.5 to 3.5 cm long. Flowers are white, 7-9 cm long. Pods are linear, 20-60 cm long, 7 to 8 mm wide, pendulous and curved, containing many seeds.

Distribution
In settled areas, at low and medium altitudes.

Constituents and characteristics
Bark contains tannin and gum.
Bark is very astringent.
Flowers are emollient and laxative.
Leaves are aperient, diuretic, laxative.

Parts used and preparation
Root, flowers, bark, leaves.

Uses:
Culinary
Often planted for its edible flowers and pods.
The large white or pink flowers are edible, eaten raw or steamed; makes for an excellent salad.
Young pods are eaten like string beans.
Excellent source of calcium, fair source of iron, good source of vitamin B.
Folkloric
Juice of the root, mixed with honey, used as an expectorant.
Decoction of the bark used for hemoptysis.
Infusion of the bark given for smallpox and other eruptive fevers.
Juice of leaves and flowers used for nasal catarrh and headaches.
Others
Produces a clear gum making a good substitute for gum arabic.

Availability
Cultivated and wildcrafted.

Source: www.stuartexchange.org

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