LOCAL NAMES Arabic (ghaf); Bengali (shami); Gujarati (khijado,sumri,semru,sami,kamra); Hindi (janti,banni,jand,chonksa,sangri,shami,chaunkra,khejiri); Sanskrit (jhind,jhand); Tamil (perumbay,vanni,jambu); Trade name (jand,kandi,khejri); Urdu (jandi,thand,kandi)
It is native to arid portions of Western Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Iran, India, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. It is an established introduced species in parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.
It is also the national tree of the United Arab Emirates. Through the Give a Ghaf campaign its citizens are urged to plant it in their gardens to combat desertification and to preserve their country’s heritage.
he plant is reported to be astringent, demulcent, and pectoral. It is a folk remedy for various ailments.
The flowers are mixed with sugar and used to prevent miscarriage
The ashes are rubbed over the skin to remove hair
The bark is considered to be anthelmintic, refrigerant, and tonic
It is used for treating asthma, bronchitis, dysentery, leucoderma, leprosy, rheumatism, muscle tremors, piles, and wandering of the mind
Smoke from the leaves is suggested for eye troubles
The pod is said to be astringent
Although recommended for scorpion sting and snakebite, the plant has not proved to be effective
it is used for the treatment of vertigo and as a brain tonic.
A paste of bark is applied to scorpion sting.
Ash of fruit is applied locally to remove hairs.
Flowers are mixed with sugar and administered to prevent miscarriage.
Pods are eaten green, dried or after boiling and are considered to possess, astringent, demulcent, and pectorel properties.
Pods are used as fodder for livestock
Pulp before ripened is rich in sweetish farinaceous pulp, which is consumed as food especially in times of scarcity.
During femine bark is used as food.
Bark is ground into flour and made into cakes.
Bark as well as the galls formed on the leaves are used for tanning.
Leaves are much used for fodder.
Leaves are useful for green manuring.
Yes shami plant is a divine tree which also helps in medical sector as a medicine
shami Podha