Millettia pinnata. Botanical Description

Millettia pinnata is a deciduous tree that grows to about 15-25 metres in height with a large canopy that spreads equally wide. The leaves are a soft, shiny burgundy in early summer and mature to a glossy deep green as the season progresses. Flowers, borne on racemes, are pink light purple or white. Pods are elliptical 3-6 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, thick walled and usually contain a single seed. Seeds are 10-20 cm long, fig oblong and light brown in colour.

Small clusters of white purple and pink flowers blossom on their branches throughout the year, maturing into brown seedpods. The tree is well suited to intense heat and sunlight and its dense network of lateral roots and its thick long taproot make it extremely drought resistant and wind tolerant.

The dense shade it provides slows the evaporation of surface water and its root structures promote nitrogen fixation, which moves nutrients from the air into the soil. Withstanding temperatures slightly below 0 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall of 250mm to 2500mm, the tree grows wild on sandy and rocky soils, including limestone. It will grow in most soil types even with its roots in salt water.

It is a leguminous tree that is well adapted to arid zones and has many traditional uses. Juices from the plant (as well as the oil) are antiseptic and resistant to pests.

Millettia pinnata also has the rare property of producing seeds of 40 - 50% lipid oil content. The seed oil is an important asset of the tree having been traditionally used as lamp oil, in soap making and as a lubricant for thousands of years.

Millettia Pinnata Seed / Pod Content
Each seed pod contains 6% oil - 94% seedcake
The encased seed accounts for 45-95% of the weight of each seed pod (depending on variety and management)
The seed itself consists of 40-50% lipid oil, and 40-60% seedcake
Seed cake
The rich seed cake remaining after pressing the seed can be utilised as organic fertiliser, high protein animal stock feed, or biomass for heat and power generation.
Plantation Prunings
Mulched prunings from Millettia pinnata can be utilised as organic fertiliser, high protein animal stock feed, or biomass for heat and power generation.

Fast Facts About Millettia pinnata.

Best grown between sea level and 1200 m above
Trees thrive with rainfall in the range of 250 - 2500 mm
Trees thrive in temperatures from 0 - 50 degrees celcius
Highest growth rates are observed in soils with adequate moisture.
Mature trees regularly produce 800 - 1,000kgs of seed per tree per year.