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Introduction of Velvet Tamarind

            Scientific name - Dialium indum

Velvet tamarind comes under the Leguminosae family which is tall, growing under tropical climatic conditions and also bears fruits. The fruits are similar to the grapes and are consumable containing hard shells which must not be consumed. Since the fruit contains tamarind flavor it has its English name as tamarind. Taste is both sweet and sour, More than Tamarind it is sweeter, dryier and has powder like consistency with a firm shell. When the fruit is dried it becomes powdery and the orange color possess a tangy flavor. Every fruit contains only one firm seed which is flat, circular, brown in color with a width of 7-8 millimeters and a thickness of 3 mm. The seed is a look alike of a watermelons seed having 2 seeds. The seed has a glossy finish and has a coating of starch.

Nutritional Value of Velvet Tamarind

Components	Amount
Moisture	10.13% and 10.53%
Dry matter	90.15% and 88.4%
Ash	2.55% and 12.52%
Organic matter	12.62% and 41.55%
Crude fat	35.33% and 5.34%
Crude fibre	13.52% and 1.05%
Carbohydrate	43.9% and 58.65%
Protein	17.44% and 3.94%
Total Nitrogen free Extract	2.79% and 0.65%
Magnesium	0.16mg/l and 0.40mg/l
Sodium	2.42mg/l and 2.88mg/l
Iron	0.91mg/l and 1.43mg/l
Calcium	0.54mg/l and 0.35mg/l
Potassium	0.34mg/l and 1.21mg/l

Health Benefits of Velvet Tamarind

The Velvet Tamarind fruit has a lot of medical applications. The leaf’s decoction is used to solve problems of gastric ulcer. The leaves possess a lot amount of diuretic properties helping in producing urine, also helps the heart to pump blood thus eradicating the complications of hypertension. The barks decoction has medical applications too solving tooth ache. Also the bark lowers the inflammation from the bronchial tubes solving bronchitis, the leaves decoction is also used in the treatment of jaundice , regulates the blood sugar levels by reducing the sugar levels and intensifies the insulin sensitivity thus curing diabetes. The excellent analgesic properties of the fruit aid in nullifying the menstrual pains. Helps in stopping diarrhea. The pre mature leaves of the velvet tamarind fruits are use to heal the wounds thus promoting the skin and guards it from problems like germs and moisture.

Cultivation and Propagation

The plant resists hot, wet, tropical climatic conditions, Mostly grows easily in the tropical climatic conditions preferably grows in the rainy areas as it needs soil which is completely drained , The tree possess the ability to grow in both good and also poor soil, Velvet tamarind trees need a partially shaded place and which is small too, The life span is 15-17 years to the maximum reported by the farmers of the locality ,But there was tree reported to have lived for 40 years , other two trees which grew in nitrogen containing soil closer to an outdoor toilet was reported to be dead when it was 5 years. The plants have a good symbiosis with soil’s bacteria the bacteria in turn helps in the production of nodules and incorporate atmospheric nitrogen into it, Parts of the nitrogen are used by the plant but some of it could be used by the surrounding plants too.

The plant can never be cultivated so the process of propagation is not that clearly known, but estimated of growing from the seeds in the forests.

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