Madhuca longifolia

Madhuca longifolia L. is a tree with rapid growth of approximately 20 meters in height, with persistent or semi-persistent sheets, pertaining to the family of the Sapotaceae , originating in India and adapted to the arid mediums.

It is cultivated in hot climate for its oleaginous seeds, its flowers and its wood. Output: 20 with seed 200kg by tree, according to its maturity. This oil (solid with room temperature, butters) is used for the care of the skin, to manufacture soap or detergents like in the food. It can also be used as a Plant oil carburizing. The oil cakes obtained after extraction of oil constitute very good fertilizers. The flowers are used to produce an alcoholic drink in tropical India. Several parts of the tree are used for their medicinal properties.

Property of the oil of Madhuca longifolia (mahua)

  • Index of refraction: 1.452 –

  • Value of saponification: 187-197
  • Iodine vale : 55-70
  • Matter Insaponifiable: % 1 – 3
  • Composition in fatty-acids (acid, %): Palmitic (c16: 0): 24.5 - Stearic (c18: 0): 22.7 - Oleic (c18: 1): 37.0 - Lionoléique (c18: 2): 14.3

Other names of the tree

  • Other scientific names: Bassia longifolia L., Bassia latifolia Roxb., Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel., Madhuca latifolia (Roxb.) J.F.Macbr., Bassia longifolia L., Illipe latifolia (Roxb.) F.Muell., Illipe malabrorum (Engl.)

  • Varieties:

    • Madhuca longifolia VAr. latifolia (Roxb.) A.Chev. (= Bassia latifolia (Roxb))
    • Madhuca longifolia VAr. longifolia

  • vernacular Names: French-speaking World : Illipe, Tree with butter, Bassie, Madhuca - anglophone World : honey tree, to ridge tree - India : moha, mohua, madhuca, illuppai, kuligam, madurgam, mavagam, nattiluppai, tittinam, mahwa, mahua, mowa, moa, mowrah - Sri Lanka : semi, illuppai, kulilgam, maduragam, mavagam, nattiluppai, tittinam

Other oleiferous species of the interesting arid regions

External bonds

  • edible Oil of Mahua (edible Alternative oil from mahua seeds), The Hindu

  • the butter of Mowrah (Mowrah To ridge), OilsByNature.com
  • Foods Famine - http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/FamineFoods/ff_families/SAPOTACEAE.html
  • Use off Mahua Oil ( Madhuca indica ) ace has Diesel Extender Fuel: http://www.ieindia.org/publish/ag/0604/june04ag3.pdf
  • WWF India - http://www.wwfindia.org/help/adopt_plant/mahua.cfm

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