MOUNTAIN EBONY/KACHNAR

Description:

Habit: Kachnar tree grows 20-40 ft tall and 10-20 ft wide with a spreading crown of briefly deciduous leaves.

Leaves: are 4-6 in across and rounded with lobed ends and heart shaped bases. The leaves are shaped a little like a cows & hoof.

Flowers: The flowers are reminiscent of showy orchids, with five irregular, usually slightly overlapping petals in shades of magenta, lavender, purplish blue or even white. 

The flowers often make their first appearance in late winter while the tree is bare of leaves. The blooming period then lasts until early summer. The flowers are 3-5 in across and carried in clusters at the branch tips

Note: A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this tree. Kachnar is closely related to peacock flower and to the tree many consider the worlds
most beautiful, the royal poinciana – and it shows Orchid tree is staggeringly beautiful when in bloom – and it blooms for several months.

Uses: Kachnar buds are edible also widely used as an ingredient in many subcontinent recipes. Traditional Kachnar curry is prepared using kachnar buds, yogurt, onions and
native spices. It shows a good antioxidant and anticancer activity.  

The flowers and buds are boiled for a while and then mixed with roughly mashed boiled potato, chopped green
chilies, chopped onions, fresh peas, coriander leaves and spices like timmur, salt, pepper, turmeric powder, roasted sesame powder (til ko chhop), cumin powder and 

coriander powder.