Crateva adansonii subsp. odora (Garlic PearTree)

Crateva adansonii subsp. odora

Family: Capparaceae

Common names: Garlic PearTree

A deciduous tree with grey, fairly smooth bark. Leaflets 3, obovate- oblong or lanceolate, acuminate, entire, glabrous. Petiole 10-15 cm long. Flowers 5-8 cm in diameter, white, pale-yellow or light rose, in many-flowered, lax, terminal corymbs. Sepals 4, deciduous. Petals 4, long-clawed, oblong-obovate or spathulate. Stamens numerous, filaments slender, free, exceeding the petals. Ovary on a long gynophore. Stigma sessile. Fruit is a many seeded ovoid berry, 3-5 cm in diameter, seeds embedded in a yellow pulp. It is used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. It has anti-inflammatory, diuretic, demulcent and tonic properties. It is useful in disorders of urinary organs, urinary tract infections, pain and burning micturition, renal and vesical calculi.

Sowing instructions: Sow seeds in summer in a well drained medium.

Locality: Ex Hort. Harvest: January 2025