Famous Vegetables and Fruits of Thar desert

The Thar Desert, only fertile desert of the world is rich with indigenous seasonal organic vegetables and fruits, which are popularly used as foods or medicines as  they are nutrients-dense foods containing huge amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients of healthy diet. Famous fruits or vegetables discussed below are; Watermelon, Pearl Millet, Mushrooms, Caraluma Edulis (Pippaan),  Wild Melon (Chibhar), Pods (Singari), Caper Berries, Peelu, Wild Bitter Gourd and others.

1. Watermelon

Type: Vegetable / Fruit of Creeper type plant

Botanical Name: Citrullus lanatus

Local Name: Kaareng

Name in Urdu: Tarboos (تربوز)

Name in Punjabi: Hadwana (ਤਰਬੂਜ)

Name in Sindhi: chhaaiyoo'n or Hindano (ڇانهين/ هِنداڻو)

Name in Pushtoo: Hindana (هيند واڼه)

Name in Arabic: albatikh (البطيخ)

Name in Persian: Hindwana (هندوانه)

Name in Hindi: Tarbuj (तरबूज)

Name in Gujarati: Tarbuj (તરબૂચ)

Benefits: For Tharparkar, Watermelon is a monsoon season fruit/vegetable with high water content and it contains vitamin A and some vitamin C and is usually eaten raw when fruit gets ripen. Watermelon is highly cultivated fruit around the world. Seeds of Watermelon are one of the most nutrient-dense varieties of seeds. They are a rich source of proteins, vitamins, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, copper, potassium and more. 

2. Pearl Millet

Type: Flour Grains

Botanical Name: Pennisetum glaucum

Local Name: Bajhiri

Name in Urdu: Bajra (باجرا)

Name in Punjabi: Bajra (ਬਾਜਰਾ)

Name in Sindhi: Bajhar

Usage and Benefits: Flour of Pearl Millet can be used for making Roti (South Asian Bread) and Grains of it can be boiled that can be eaten with Gur (Jaggery). Flour of Pearl Millet is rich in magnesium, potassium, which helps in dilating blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily and keep the heart healthy. It also reduce overall blood pressure. Peal Millet or Bajra is also rich with fiber that helps reduce bad cholesterol. Magnesium from Pearl Millet helps control the glucose receptors in the body and keep diabetes at bay.

3. Mushroom

Type: Vegetable

Botanical Name: Podaxis Pistillaris

Local Name: Khumbhi

Name in Urdu: Khumbhi (کهمبی)

Name in Punjabi: khubha (ਖੁੰਭ)

Name in Sindhi: Khumbhi

Usage and Benefits: This species of Mushroom (Fungi) known by Podaxis Pistillaris is only found in arid deserts. Mushroom of Thar desert has hard stem and grows up-to 15cm in size. Arid land of Thar desert produce huge amount of mushrooms soon after it gets rainfall in monsoon season. Mushrooms of Thar can be used as vegetables and making medicines. 

Mushroom of Thar desert is rich in proteins and carbohydrates and low in fat contents, hence it can be used or eaten as supplementary diet.

4. Caralluma edulis of Thar

Type: Vegetable

Scientific Name: Caralluma of  'Asclepiadaceae' Plant family

Local Name: Pippaan

Name in Urdu: Chunga

Name in Punjabi: Chunga

Name in Sindhi: Pippun or Pippaan

Usage and Benefits: Caralluma of Thar desert is famous as edible green plant having medicinal properties. It can be used in vegetable dishes (eg. curry and others) and eaten as raw with salt for taste. This plant having leafless branches grows in clump on sandy gravel surface,  after desert land receive rainfall in monsoon season. 

This plant is used for curing cold/cough, stomach problems and diabetes and also its paste can be put on cuts, wounds and pimples as an ointment usage. 

5. Wild Melon (or Snap Melon)

Type: Fruit/Vegetable of Creeper type plant

Scientific Name: Cucumis melo (Plant Family: Cucurbitaceae)

Local Name: Chibhar

Name in Urdu: Jangli Kharbooz   جنگلی خربوزہ

Name in Punjabi: Jangli Kharbooz 

Name in Hindi: Phoot Kakdi

Name in Marwari (Rajasthani): Kachra

Name in Sindhi: Chibhar (چڀڙ)

Usage and Benefits: It is an annual creeper type of plant cultivated during monsoon season of summer and ripped before start of winter. This wild melon of Tharparkar are pure organic as it is free from use of all chemical pesticides or fertilizer. This fruit is found in different shapes (like oval, rounded shapes), different tastes and quality and colors. 

This fruit are very rich source of carbohydrates, minerals, vitamin C, dietary fiber and antioxidants.

6. Pods of Khejri Tree

Type: Green Vegetable

Scientific Name: Prosopis Cineraria

Local Name: Sangri

Name in English: Indian Mesquite

Name in Urdu: Shami

Name in Punjabi: Jand, Janti

Name in Bengali: Shami

Name in Hindi: Shami

Name in Arabic: Ghaff (National tree of country UAE)

Name in Marwari (Rajasthani): Khejri, Jaat (State tree of Rajasthan, India)

Name in Sindhi: Kandi

Usage and Benefits: Khejri tree also known by 'King of Desert' is  most commonly found in Thar desert of Pakistan and India. Species of this tree is also found in Gulf countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

6. Caper Berries of Thar desert

Type: Green Vegetable

Scientific Name: Capparis decidua

Local Name: Ker/Kair (ڪير)

Name in English: Capparis decidua / Forsk / Edgew

Name in Urdu: Karira or Karir (کیر) or Karil

Name in Punjabi: Karira or Karir

Name in Hindi: Karira (कैरो)

Name in Arabic: Karil

Name in Marwari (Rajasthani): Ker/Kair

Name in Sindhi: Ker/Kair (ڪير) or Donraa (ڏونرا)

Usage and Benefits: Capparis decidua commonly known as  Kair, is a useful shrub plant, that can survive in harsh and arid conditions of Thar desert. Its berries which are so bitter and acrid in taste are used for preparing vegetables, curry and fine pickles. The nutrients elements of Kair berries are rich in proteins, fiber, absorbic acid, fatty acids, saturated acids,  This shrub plant and its berries are used as various remedies to treat fever, cough, stomach ailments, diabetes and acute pain. 

7. Peelu (Sweet berries of Toothbrush Tree/ Mustard Tree)

Type: Fruit

Scientific Name: Salvadora Persica

Local Name: Khhabr ro Peelu

Name in English: Red berries of Truthbrush Tree / Mustard Tree

Name in Urdu: Peelu (مسواک کا پیلو)

Name in Punjabi: Jaal (ਜਾਲ)

Name in Hindi: Peelu (मिसवाकी का पीलू)

Name in Arabic: Arak (ثمرة الاراك)

Name in Marwari (Rajasthani):  Mithi Jaal (मीठी जाल)

Name in Sindhi: Peelu (مسواڪ جو پيلو)

Usage and Benefits: Toothbrush Tree is a shrub type tree which is found in hot and dry regions of Africa, Middle East including India and Pakistan. This tree gives grapes size berries (in brown or yellow colors) having edible, pungent and sweet taste, which can be eaten in fresh or in dried forms. Fruits of Toothbrush Tree (i.e. Peelu) possess medicinal properties and are used treat fever, stomach problems, relieve pains. The sweet berries (Peelu) of this tree are rich in Proteins, Carbohydrates, Crude Fiber, Fats and other nutrients elements.

Miswak (Toothbrush) Tree of Thar Desert

Branches with leaves and fruits (Peelu)

Large bowl of Peelu fruits

  

7. Karela (Wild Bitter Gourd)

Type: Vegetable of Creeper type plant

Scientific Name: Momordica charantia

Local Name: Karela

Name in English: Bitter melon; Bitter apple; Bitter gourd; Bitter squash; Balsam-pear

Name in Urdu: Karela (کریلا)

Name in Punjabi: Karela (ਕਰੇਲਾ)

Name in Hindi: Karela (करेला)

Name in Arabic: Alhanzil (الحنظل)

Name in Gujarati:  kārelũ (કારેલું)

Name in Sindhi: Karelo (ڪريلو)

Name in Sanskrit: Karvelah

Usage and Benefits: Wild Bitter Gourd (or Karela in Local language) is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. It contains iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamins like A and C. It contains calcium twice that of spinach and beta-carotene of broccoli. It also includes various anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.

It supports in lowering the bad cholesterol levels, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It strengthens the immune system, improves respiratory health, boosts skin health and contains anti-ageing properties. 

Bitter gourd contains polypeptide, an insulin-like compound called and charantin, which has anti-diabetic properties that can help in reducing the blood sugar levels. 

It also contains fiber and is low in glycemic index, which helps in lowering the blood sugar level. Bitter gourd is low in calories, fat and carbohydrates which help in weight management of human body. 

Creeper type plant holding Wild Bitter Gourd (Karela)

Wild Bitter Gourd (Karela)