Crateva religiosa commonly known as garlic pear is actually a moderate sized deciduous tree having unpleasant smell, with trifoliate leaves and garlic scented flowers. They grow wild near streams and are widely grown as an ornamental and sacred plant, especially around temples, in India and Bangladesh. Tree usually flowers and fruits in the month of Dec-May. Leaves and young shoots are cooked as a vegetable, flowers are pickled and berries and seeds are also edible.
| Name | Garlic pear |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crateva religiosa |
| Native | Japan, Australia, much of Southeast Asia and several South Pacific islands |
| Common/English Name | Temple plant, Balai Lamok, abiyuch, barna, varuna, bidasi, Garlic pear tree, Caper tree, Three-leaf caper, Obtuse Leaf Crateva |
| Plant Growth Habit | Moderate sized deciduous tree |
| Growing Climate | Grows well in sun or partial shade. |
| Soil | Moist, rich, neutral to acid soil |
| Plant Size | 15m (50ft) tall and 9m (30ft) wide |
| Bark | Grey |
| Leaf | Clustered at the ends of branchlets, with a common petiole 5 to 10 centimeters long, at the summit of which are tree leaflets |
| Leaflets | Ovate-lanceolate or ovate, 7.5 to 12 centimeters long, 4 to 6 centimeters wide, and pointed at the base, with a rather slender point at the tip |
| Flower | Occur in terminal corymbs, are about 5 centimeters in diameter, greenish-yellow, and the stamens are purplish. The petals are ovate or oblong, with the claw half as long as limb. |
| Fruit Shape & Size | Ovoid or rounded, and 3 to 5 centimeters in diameters |
| Fruitr Color | Light Green |
| Fruit Skin | Hard and rough rind |
| Flesh Color | Yellow |
| Taste | Burning taste |
| Seed | 10 centimeters in length, numerous, kidney-shaped |
| Major Nutrition | Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 123.3 mg (137.00%) Iron, Fe 3.67 mg (45.88%) Total dietary Fiber 12.1 g (31.84%) Carbohydrate 40.13 g (30.87%) Manganese, Mn 0.415 mg (18.04%) Phosphorus, P 107 mg (15.29%) Potassium, K 693 mg (14.74%) Copper, Cu 0.13 mg (14.44%) Magnesium, Mg 55 mg (13.10%) Protein 3.42 g (6.84%) |
| Health Benefits |
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| Calories in 1 cup (228 gm) | 157 K cal |