Laxmitaru Plant and its importance

LAKSHMI TARU (Simarouba glauca DC; Common names: Simarouba, oil tree, paradise tree or aceituno) is an important tree species growing in the forests of Central America. It was first introduced by National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in the Research Station at Amravathi, Maharashtra in 1960s.

• Seeds contain 60-75% oil that can be extracted by conventional methods
• Each well-grown tree yields 15 to 30 Kg nutlets equivalent to 2.5-5 Kg oil and about the same quantity of oilcake. This amounts to 1000-2000 Kg oil/ha/year (400-800 Kg/acre/year) and about the same quantity of oilcake
• The oil is largely used in the preparation of bakery products in Central America. In India too it can be used in the manufacture of vanaspati, vegetable oil and/or margarine
• The oil is free from bad cholesterol. It can be also used for industrial purposes in the manufacture of BIOFUELS, soaps, detergents, lubricants, varnishes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc.
• The oilcake being rich in nitrogen (8%), phosphorus (1.1%) and potash (1.2%), is good organic manure
• The shells can be used in the manufacture of particle board, activated charcoal or as fuel
• The fruit pulp, rich in sugars (about 11%) can be used in the preparation of beverages
• The pulp along with leaf litter can be economically used in the manufacture of Vermicompost (about 8 tons/ha/year or 3 tons/acre/year)
• The bark and leaves are medicinally important
• The wood is generally insect resistant and is used in the preparation of quality furniture, toys, in match industry, as pulp (in paper making) and as fuel

 For more details about sapling, growing the plants contact Bankim bhai 9820062830 or Viral Doshi 9867474994

Laxmitaru's Plantation on 15-August-2010

 21st-August-2010

A day and an experience to remember(In fact since the first day with Art Of Living, every moment is an experience to remember :-)  )

The date was 13th August 2010.We the Art Of Living family from Kandivali, took the sankalp of planting 70 Laxmitaru trees on 15th August 2010.Only two days remaining! We had'nt decided on any ground where we can plant them (Or didn't have the permissions for the ones that we thought), we didn't have enough hands to achieve our target, we were not having the tools ready for plantation as well. Just one thought was clear. Achieving our dear Guruji's sankalpa for a green environment. If we wouldn't be from Art Of Living, people would probably call us insane! :)

On 15th August 2010 starting from 11.00 am, we planted 72 Laxmitaru trees in Municipal School Ground (Charkop, Kandivali)with the right political permissions,right tools,and about 25-30 Art Of Living Family and even the local people participating enthusiastically in the event.

Welcome to the Art Of Living. Anything is possible!

"It takes 16 trees to generate enough oxygen for 1 human life, each individual owes nature 16 trees and each individual uses 1 tree, when we leave this earth" - H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

 We later got the news that the Bangalore Ashram had the same tree plantation program on the 15th August and that too at 11.00 a.m !!!!!!!! ....... Jay Gurudev!