Nadukali / नडुकली / Nadukali / Pavetta indica L.

Nadukali / नडुकली / Nadukali / Pavetta indica L.

Other Names

  • Local Name: Nadukali / नडुकली
  • Common Name: Nadukali
  • Botanical Name: Pavetta indica L.

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Shrub
  • Occurrence: Primary and secondary forests; in sunny places.
  • Season of Availability: Year-round
  • Geography: Indian subcontinent
  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds dispersed by birds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Flowers
  • Can be Eaten Raw: Yes

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes
  • Ripe: Yes
  • Both Raw & Ripe: Yes
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: N/A
  • As Food: Fruits are eaten raw when ripe and are added to desserts; flowers are eaten raw or cooked into parathas.
  • As Medicine: Leaf decoction is taken after childbirth and for fever; also poultices for boils and ulcers; root is used for various conditions like constipation, jaundice, headache, and dropsy; stem bark is used topically for hemorrhoids, and the wood infusion is taken for rheumatism. Bark decoction is also used to ease visceral obstructions especially in children
  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Not required
  • Boiling Before Cooking: Not required
  • Pickling: Yes, fruits in vinegar
  • Brining: N/A
  • Fermenting: N/A
  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A
  • Overall Method: Fruits are eaten raw when ripe and are added to desserts; flowers are eaten raw or cooked into parathas.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Rich in protein and carbohydrates.
  • Medicinal Benefit: Diuretic, Diarrhoea, Urinary tract ailments, Jaundice, Helps to ease Visceral Obstructions

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Leaf decoction is taken after childbirth and for fever; also poultices for boils and ulcers; root is used for various conditions like constipation, jaundice, headache, and dropsy; stem bark is used topically for hemorrhoids, and the wood infusion is taken for rheumatism.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Kachru:
    Make a paste of flowers, besan and spices (coriander, ajwain, chili, turmeric). Heat some oil on a tava. Put this batter over a pan and cook for 15 minutes.

Nadukali / नडुकली / Nadukali / Pavetta indica L.