Pendhra / पेंढरा / Divine Jasmine / Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz.)

Pendhra Fruit is used as an astringent; while its roots are used as a cooling tonic, and act as a diuretic and an aphrodisiac. Unripe Pendhra fruits are also used as a fish poison. The stem bark of Pendhra is sometimes used for bone fractures - ground with a white layer of desi egg, turmeric and calcium. Young fruits are boiled and cooked into a sabji.

Other Names

Local Name: Pendhra / पेंढरा
Common Name: Divine Jasmine
Botanical Name: Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz.)

Status & Habitat

Status: Common
Habitat: Tree
Occurrence: Dry deciduous forests
Season of Availability: Summer season
Geography: Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China
Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

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

Method of Consumption

Raw: No
Ripe: Yes
Both Raw & Ripe: No
Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw rest of the plant.
As Food: Fruit is boiled and cooked into vegetables
As Medicine: Fruits are used to treat cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery; roots have cooling and diuretic properties and are used as a tonic; roasted pulp is used for diarrhea and dysentery relief; unripe fruit is used as fish poison.
Cooking Without Prior Boiling: No
Boiling Before Cooking: Yes
Pickling: Yes
Brining: Yes
Fermenting: N/A
Drying for later Consumption: N/A
Overall Method: Fruits are eaten raw or cooked, and used in medicine.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

Nutritional Benefit: HIgh moisture and protein.
Medicinal Benefit: Astringent, Cholera, Diarrhea & Dysentery, Headache, Pimples & Sores, Cooling Tonic, Diuretic, Aphrodisiac
and Insecticidal

Tribal Wisdom

Tribal Wisdom: Fruits are used to treat cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery; roots have cooling and diuretic properties and are used as a tonic; roasted pulp is used for diarrhea and dysentery relief; unripe fruit is used as fish poison.

Recipes / Usage

Tribal Recipe / Usage: Sabji:
Helps with diarrhea. Heat oil, onion, coconut, chili, mustard powder and haldi in a cooker. Put chopped-up fruits into this and mix.

Image Gallery

Pendhra / पेंढरा / Divine Jasmine / Tamilnadia uliginosa (Retz.)