Mahua (Madhuca indica) is a keystone species of Central India.....Massive with multiple utility....a haven for birds...
When leather-colored bud clusters appear in spring and the fragrant flowers bloom in summer...its a busy time for everybody, those who depend on it.....
People in rural areas burn down the leafy carpet at the ground, so as to more effectively collect the juicy-grape-like flowers.......at night one can see the distant hills burning.....I am not sure of its environmental impact though....
Some flowers are fermented to make beverages......elephants raiding the cottages of people to aid this aromatic drink is not unknown...
Other flowers are dried on mats in full sun to make raisins...these fried flowers are sold as a cow feed..my mother used to buy bagful of them to feed our cattle...
Our school campus had one giant tree......we used to pick the flowers...the dried mass were often sold to fund the earthen water pitchers for the summer days......it was fun...
The fruits which looked like canistels are consumed as vegetables.........I have tried a few times....though I did not like...some off-flavor of the characteristic Sapotaceae family....must be the tannin...
The seed oil was used as an skin emollient.....must better than the current slew of dangerous chemicals...
As a respect to its contribution, this plants is considered holy and its woods are used in weddings and other auspicious occasions...
And it often harbors the orchid vanda on its barks...
When I saw a Amazonian tree Ombu in California botanical garden.......it reminded me of our own mahua tree.........
Save them......its utter foolishness to topple down such nourishing plants for some fire woods or timbers..
