Pithecellobium Dulce, Jungle Jalebi - 0.5 kg Seeds

Jungle Jalebi or Manila Tamarind (Pithecellobium dulce), known locally as Vilayati Imli, is a fast-growing, thorny, semi-evergreen tree naturalised throughout India. Its twisted, pink-and-white seed pods open to reveal a sweet-sour edible pulp around shiny black seeds. Tough and adaptable, it is a multipurpose tree valued for fuelwood, fodder and as a quick-establishing living fence or hedge.

The hard, reddish wood is used for fuel and light timber, the bark yields tannin and dye, the leaves and pods feed livestock, and various parts are used in folk medicine. It thrives on poor, dry and saline soils across the plains and coasts of India, withstanding heat and drought, and is often planted for shade, soil binding and boundary fencing.

• Family: Fabaceae (Mimosoideae)
• Native region: Mexico and Central America; widely naturalised in India
• Mature height: 10-15 m
• Growth rate: Fast

Soak the seeds in water for 12-24 hours before sowing to speed germination, which is generally quick and reliable. Sow about 1-2 cm deep directly in the field or in nursery bags of ordinary soil; seedlings emerge in 1-2 weeks. They establish rapidly and can be transplanted young or direct-sown for hedges and shelterbelts.