Rukhda tree

The 400 year old Rukhda Tree in Diu

We walked past the Nagoa beach, towards the Gomtimata beach, and just when we had traveled about 400 meters, we noticed a board pointing towards the Rukhda Tree. Curious we headed off in that direction and discovered a gigantic tree amidst a thick canopy of coconut and Hoka trees. This tree, we learnt, is the Rukhda (baobab) tree and this particular one is believed to be more than 400 years old. It is one of the handful of Rukhda trees in India.

Regarded as the largest succulent plant in the world, the Rukhda (baobab) tree is the native of Africa (Madagascar). It is a tree that can provide, food, water, shelter and relief from sickness. Adansonia honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described A. digitata. The specific epithet digitata refers to the fingers of a hand, which the five leaflets (typically) in each cluster bring to mind. The common Hindi Name is "Gorakh Imli" and it is also known as "Kalp Vriksh". It is host to some very interesting species. The Rukhda tree is not indigenous to India and is believed to have been introduced from Africa by Arabian traders. 

It has been found in India for centuries, which is illustrated by various names in Sanskrit literature namely, chitrala, choramli, dirghadandi, gajabala, gandhabahula, gopali, gorakh-chinch, gorakshi, kasmiramlika, pancaparnika, ravanamlika, sarpadandi, and sudandika. Most of the names indicate the acidic nature of the fruit and leaves by the use of the suffix -Amlika.

Rukhda tree is also known as "Kalp-Vriksh"

Rukhda grows throughout India, especially, in north India, Bihar, Madras and Bombay. It is a huge tree, grows 15-20 metres in height and its trunk has widest diameter than any tree. The base of the trunk is broad at the base and rapidly narrowing upwards. The leaves are deciduous, glabrous, leaflets 2-5 inches in length. The flowers are white in colour with elongated stalk. The fruits are large, 9-12 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, green and thick skinned. The fruits are oblong, cucumber shaped, covered with greenish-yellow thin fur. The pulp of the fruit is sour. The seeds are shiny and kidney shaped.

Large Rukhda trees with hollow stems have been used by people for centuries for various purposes including houses, prisons, pubs, storage barns, and even as bus stops! A big tree in the old Transvaal region of South Africa is reported as once being used as a dairy. Another tree near Leydsdorp (the smallest city in South Africa) was used as a bar (known as the Murchison Club) and utilized by prospectors and miners during the gold rush of the late 19th century. Another tree in the Caprivi Strip (Namibia) was converted into a toilet, complete with a flushing system.

Rainwater often collects in the clefts of the large branches, and travellers and local people often use this valuable source of water. The centre of the tree is purposely hollowed out to serve as a reservoir for water during the rainy season. One such reservoir was recorded as holding 4546 litres of water. African honey bees often utilize hollows in the tree to make their hives.

An edible white, powdery pulp found in the Rukhda fruit is very rich in vitamin C and B2 and makes a refreshing drink. Ripe fruits are collected and cracked to remove the ‘flour’, which is mixed with milk to prepare a flavoured fermented porridge. The small stem and roots of the seedlings are eaten as vegetable while mature, thick roots are cooked and eaten during famine.

Rukhda leaves are also a rich source of vitamin C, sugars, potassium tartrate, and calcium. They are cooked fresh as a vegetable or dried and crushed for later use by local people. The sprout of a young tree can be eaten like asparagus. Seeds are edible and can also be roasted for use as a coffee substitute. When chewed, the wood provides vital moisture to relieve thirst and humans as well as certain animals eat it in times of drought.

The fibrous bark is used to make various useful items such as mats and ropes, fishing nets, fishing lines, sacks as well as clothing. Although the bark is often heavily stripped by people and elephants, these trees do not suffer as a normal tree would from ringbarking. Baobabs have the ability to simply continue growing and produce a new layer of bark. It is a great soil improver and decaying wood is spread on fields as a fertilizer. Ashes from the shell, bark and seed are rich in potash and are useful as a fertilizer.

Rukhda has few synonyms in ancient Ayurvedic texts like goraksacinca, pancaparni and ravanamlika. Raja Nighantu mentions its various properties and medicinal uses. It is one of the most beneficial, but less commonly utilized plants in the treatment of hyperacidity.

No wonder, in ancient Indian literature, the tree is known as Kalpavriksha or Kalpataru, as almost everything for survival can be provided by this tree.