Botnical Name – Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng.

Common Name – curry leaf, Meethi neem

Classification –

• Kingdom – Plantae

• Division – Magnoliophyta

• Class – Magnoliopsida

• Order – sapindales

• Family – Rutaceae

• Genus – Murraya

• Species - koenigii 

Charactersitics Of Family Ruraceae – 

This family also called citrus famiy.Leaves gland dotted, simple or compound; flower hermaphrodite, hypogynous, actinomorphic with a disc below the ovary; corolla polypetalous; stamens ten, obdiplostemonous; carpels 5 or many, ovary superior, multilocular; fruit capsule or berry; aromatic odour is present.

Habitat – Found in deciduous forests , plains areas ,along roads, undergrowth or among bushes and hedges.

World Distribution – India ,shri Lanka, Myanmar , Thailand ,Indo-china.

Distribution – Assam , Tamil Nadu , Punjab , Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra. 

Status – Least concern

Plant description – 

Shrub up to 2.5 m tall. Compound, odd-pinnate 30 cm-long leaves are composed of 11-21 shiny, dark green, lance-shaped  leaflets . 

Leaflet apex emarginate and  base oblique, margin slightly toothed. The leaflet are attached  to the rachis , reddish petiole in alternate to sub-opposite arrangement . 

Leaves are highly aromatic when rubbed or crushed. Stems are dark green to brown, with numerous dots.

Flower White, funnel-shaped, 5-lobed flowers have a sweet fragrance.  Flowers are arranged in clusters at the terminal. 

Fruits Black, glossy fruits are round to oblong. Each fruit contains a single, dark green seed which takes up half the volume of the fruit. The pulp is edible, rich in Vitamin C and tastes sweet.

Uses

• Essential oil Murraya koenigii is used as sun protection and erythena agent in formulation.

• Curry leaf oil helps in contracting the muscles and tissues.

• The essential oil of Murraya koenigii is utilized in soap and cosmetic industry for aromatherapy.

• Curry leaf extract help in pigmentation and reduces the white patches all over the body.

• The Murraya koenigii is beneficial in bruises ,eruption and to treat bites of poisonous animals.

• Fresh leaves, dried leaf powder and essential oil of curry leaf is widely used as flavouring soups, fish, meat, eggs dishes, traditional curry powder blends, seasoning and ready to use other food preparation.