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Nature Note From Mhow: Have you ever eaten the Jungle Jalebi?

May 6 2008 | Views 1061 | Comments (86)

Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. Nature Note From Mhow: Have you ever eaten t... Expand

Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Nature Note From Mhow: Have you ever eaten the Jungle Jalebi?

Photographs taken from March to May 2008.

Camera: SONY DSC H9.

Taxonomic Name: Pithecellobium dulce
Common Names: Madras Thorn, Manila Tamarind, Monkeypod, Guamachili, Kamatsile (Filipino), Opiuma (Hawaiian).

According to the Wikipedia article on this tree it is a native of Central and Northern South America.

Besides the common names given above Pradip Krishen's Trees Of Delhi, a copy of      which is always on my study table, gives me the names Vilaiti Imli and Dakhani Babool for this tree in Hindi.

The jungle jalebi was a childhood favourite during the years I spent in Mhow in the late sixties and early seventies. Every summer we had to break a few by throwing stones and then fight for the tasty fruit when they fell to the ground.

We have a tree in our house now. It is the rejuvented part of an older tree and is doing well.


These pictures are taken over a period of almost two months as the flowers became fruits which in turn ripened.

The large leaves one can see to the left in the pic above are those of the lantana.

For More Information:

The Wikipedia article on this tree - Click here

The previous nature note from Mhow: The Gul Mohur - A Flamboyant Tree

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Comments (86)

Dev Kumar Vasudevan posted 3 mnths ago

Hi Priya.... well there is still time... as long as the child within you is alive you can still taste the jungle jalebi thanks for the visit and the comment... regards.. Dev

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Dev Kumar Vasudevan posted 3 mnths ago

Well Bijaya then you qualify to be a member of the elite group of those who have eaten the jungle jalebi

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Priya Sivan posted 3 mnths ago

DKV, thanks for the note. Otherwise I would have missed this post. I have seen this jungle jilebis but havent tasted them though. During childhood days I have seen the vendors selling them in front of schools.

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