Extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadora_persica
The *toothbrush tree*, *Salvadora persica* (other names *Galenia asiatica*, *Salvadora indica*, "Peelu" or "Pīlu<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%ABlu>"), is a small tree <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree> or shrub<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub>with a crooked trunk, seldom more than one foot in diameter. Its bark <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark> is scabrous and cracked, whitish with pendulous extremities. The root bark of the tree is light brown ( sand like colur ) and the inner surfaces are of even lighter shade brown , the odour is like cress <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cress> and its taste is warm and pungent. Its fibrous branches have been used as toothbrushes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothbrush>by many Islamic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam> communities — miswaks<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miswak>. It was recommended to be used before every prayer:"if it were not too much of a burden then I would tell the believers to use the siwak before *every prayer*" It has been scientifically proven to be very useful in the prevention of tooth decay even when used without any other tooth cleaning means. The users of siwak have shown a remarkable lack of tooth decay<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_decay>when compared with other toothbrushes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothbrush> and no tooth cleaning at all. >From Indiantreepix Database: *Salvadora persica (syn. S. indica, S. cyclophylla, S. wightiana)* * Salvadoraceae* *Peelu, Meswak toothpaste plant, Saltbush, Chhota Peelu, Jhak, Kharjal, Jal, Dhalu, Sara* Flowering in Delhi on 20/1/08; Trees of Delhi- Flowers some between Dec. & April, erratically & differing widely from tree to tree. Salvadora persica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadora_persica> Salvadora persica(peelu) flowering - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/a8cfb3b925132916> Species Information<http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1477> Salvedora spp. - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/1d334d94f30bb454/f636303c14550ef1#f636303c14550ef1> Salvadora persica - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/c8ced0b43da7b8c> Peelu(Salvadora persica) fruiting - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/508a966ce022e888> 2009/1/23 dhaivat hathi <[email protected]> > *Local Gujarati Name - Piludi - પીલુડી > > **Botanical Name - Salvadora persica* > > *Details - A desert tree of moderate size, evergreen, edible fruits, > extremely Birdfriendly, always packed with Rosy Starlings, Koels, Sparrows, > Mynas, Bul Buls, Babblers when fruiting, medically also very important. Can > grow in any condition, even by grafting, very less water requirement.* > > our sourse of information is *Trees Of India - Oxford Uni Press > * > -- > Have a nice time, > Regards, > Dhaivat & Rajdeep. > > > "Monitor alone uses more than half of computer's total power. I choose to > switch off the monitor everytime I take a break." > > Save a tree - please do not print this email unless you really need to. > > > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
