Papdi / पापडी / Indian Elm / Holoptelea integrifolia Planch.

Other Names

  • Local Name: Papdi / पापडी
  • Common Name: Indian Elm
  • Botanical Name: Holoptelea integrifolia Planch.

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Tree
  • Occurrence: Mostly on plains; mountains on elevations up to 1100 m
  • Season of Availability: December-March
  • Geography: Most of Indian subcontinent, Indo-China and Myanmar
  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds from mature ripe fruits

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Seeds
  • Can be Eaten Raw: Fruits, yes.

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes, Unripe fruits
  • Ripe: No
  • Both Raw & Ripe: No
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw rest of the plant.
  • As Food: Unripe fruits are eaten as-is; raw seeds are used as a vegetable or in salads; cooked seeds are used as a dry fruit.
  • As Medicine: Bark powder is sprinkled onto wounds to help them heal faster; a paste of bark can also be applied to wounds; a cold infusion of the bark is drunk to increase appetite.
  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Not required
  • Boiling Before Cooking: Not required
  • Pickling: No
  • Brining: No
  • Fermenting: No
  • Drying for later Consumption: No
  • Overall Method: Unripe fruits are eaten as-is; raw seeds are used as a vegetable or in salads; cooked seeds are used as a dry fruit.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Rich in protein.
  • Medicinal Benefit: Tuberculosis, Piles, Stomach ailments, excessive menstrual bleeding, vomiting

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Bark powder is sprinkled onto wounds to help them heal faster; paste of bark can also be applied to wounds; cold infusion of the bark is drunk to increase appetite.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Kheer:
    Wash the dried chilbil seeds and grind coarsely on a grinding stone. Heat the ghee in a kadai, add the crushed chilbil seeds to it and roast. Add milk, and boil till the seeds are soft. Add the dry fruits and sugar and continue to cook till the milk is thick.

Papdi / पापडी / Indian Elm / Holoptelea integrifolia Planch.