View source for Biology:Curry tree

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Curry tree
| image = Curry Trees.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{Cite iucn|title=Curry Leaf, ''Murayya koenigii''|page=e.T156236806A166564522|author=Plummer, J. |year=2021|access-date=6 March 2021|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T156236806A166564522.en}}</ref>
| genus = Bergera
| species = koenigii
| authority = ([[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) <ref>{{GRIN}}</ref>
| synonyms = {{Species list
|Camunium koenigii (L.) Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 99 (1891)
|Chalcas koenigii |(L.) Kurz in J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 44: 132 (1875)
|Chalcas siamensis |(Craib) Tanaka in Bull. Soc. Bot. France 75: 710 (1928)
|Murraya foetidissima |Teijsm. & Binn. in Natuurk. Tijdschr. Ned.-Indië 27: 41 (1864)
|Murraya koenigii |(L.) Spreng. in Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 2: 315 (1825)
|Murraya siamensis |Craib in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1926: 340 (1926)
|Nimbo melioides |Dennst. in Schlüssel Hortus Malab.: 30 (1818)
  }}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="Powo">{{cite web |title=''Bergera koenigii'' L. |publisher=Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:771522-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |access-date=16 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
}}

The '''curry tree''' or '''''Bergera koenigii''''' (syn.''Murraya koenigii''), is a tropical and sub-tropical [[Earth:Tree|tree]] in the family [[Biology:Rutaceae|Rutaceae]] (the rue family, which includes rue, [[Biology:Citrus|citrus]], and satinwood), native to [[Earth:Asia|Asia]].<ref name="miss">{{cite web|title=''Murraya koenigii''|url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d441|publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, USA|date=2019|access-date=13 August 2019}}</ref> The plant is also sometimes called '''sweet neem''', though ''M. koenigii'' is in a different family to neem, ''[[Biology:Azadirachta indica|Azadirachta indica]]'', which is in the related family [[Biology:Meliaceae|Meliaceae]].

Its leaves, known as ''curry leaves'', also referred to as ''sweet neem'', are used in many dishes in the [[Earth:Indian subcontinent|Indian subcontinent]].

==Description==
[[File:Curry Tree flower.JPG|thumb|The small flowers are white and fragrant.|left]]
[[File:Fresh curry Leaf (49697684423).jpg|thumb|A macro image of a curry leaf]]
[[File:CurryLeaf Fruits.jpg|thumb|Ripe and unripe fruits|left]]
It is a small tree, growing {{convert|4–6|m|ft|0}}) tall, with a trunk up to {{convert|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} in diameter. The aromatic leaves are [[Biology:Pinnation|pinnate]], with 11–21&nbsp;leaflets, each leaflet {{convert|2|–|4|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1|–|2|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} broad. The plant produces small white [[Biology:Flower|flower]]s which can self-pollinate to produce small shiny-black [[Biology:Drupe|drupes]] containing a single, large viable seed. The berry pulp is edible, with a sweet flavor.<ref name="parmar" />

==Distribution and habitat==
The tree is native to the Indian subcontinent.<ref name="Norman2002">{{Cite book|title=Herbs & Spices: The Cook's Reference|last=Norman|first=Jill|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gqStAAAACAAJ|publisher=DK Publishing|year=2002|oclc=51005062|isbn=9780789489395|location=New York, New York|pages=212, 213}}</ref> Commercial plantations have been established in India, and more recently {{wipe|Australia}}.<ref name="Norman2002" />

It grows best in well-drained soil that does not dry out, in areas with full sun or partial shade, preferably away from the wind. Growth is more robust when temperatures are at least {{convert|18|C|F|0}}.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://heritagegarden.uic.edu/curry-leaf-tree-murraya-koenigii|title=Curry leaf tree (''Murraya koenigii'')|website=Heritage Garden|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-02}}</ref>

==Etymology and common names==
The word ''curry'' derives from the [[Social:Tamil language|Tamil]] word ''kari'', the name of the plant associated with the perceived blackness of the tree's leaves.<ref name="oed">{{cite web |title=Curry and curry tree |url=https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=curry+tree |publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=16 May 2023 |date=2023}}</ref> The records of the leaves being utilized are found in Tamil literature dating back to the 1st and 4th centuries CE. Britain had spice trades with the ancient Tamil region. It was introduced to England in the late [[History:16th century|16th century]].{{Citation needed|reason=Where are the records? Are the last two sentences connected, does ancient = 16th c?  Britain and England are not the same.|date=October 2023}}. 

The species ''Bergera koenigii'' was first published by [[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|Carl Linnaeus]] in ''Mantissa Plantarum'' vol.2 on page 563 in 1767.<ref name="Powo"/>
It was formerly known as ''Murraya koenigii'' {{au|(L.) Spreng.}}, which was first published in Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 2: 315 in 1825.<ref name="Murraya">{{cite web |title=''Murraya koenigii'' (L.) Spreng. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:774433-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |access-date=16 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Some sources still recognise it as the accepted name.<ref>{{cite book |last1=George |first1=A.S. |last2=Orchard |first2=A.E. |last3=Hewson |first3=H.J. |title=Oceanic islands 2. Flora of Australia |date=1993 |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service |location=Canberra |pages=1–606 |edition=50}}</ref>

The former generic name, ''Murraya'', derives from Johan Andreas Murray (1740–1791), who studied botany under [[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|Carl Linnaeus]] and became a professor of medicine with an interest in [[Biology:Medicinal plants|medicinal plants]] at the University of Göttingen, Germany.<ref name="miss" /> The specific name, ''koenigii'', derives from the last name of botanist Johann Gerhard König.

The curry tree is also called ''curry leaf tree'' or ''curry bush'', among numerous local names, depending on the country.<ref name="cabi">{{cite web |date=14 July 2018 |title=''Murraya koenigii'' (curry leaf tree) |url=https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/35175 |access-date=13 August 2019 |publisher=CABI}}</ref><ref name="parmar" />

==Uses==
===Culinary===
The fresh leaves are an indispensable part of Indian cuisine and Indian traditional medicines. They are most widely used in southern and west coast Indian cooking, usually fried along with vegetable oil, mustard seeds and chopped onions in the first stage of the preparation. They are also used to make thoran, vada, rasam, and kadhi; additionally, they are often dry-roasted (and then ground) in the preparation of various powdered spice blends (masalas), such as South Indian sambar masala, the main seasoning in the ubiquitous vegetable stew sambar. The curry leaves are also added as flavoring to masala dosa, the South Indian potato-filled crepes, made with a mildly probiotic, fermented lentil and rice batter. The fresh leaves are valued as seasoning in the cuisines of South and Southeast Asia.<ref name=parmar/> In Cambodia, curry leaves ({{lang-km|ស្លឹកកន្ទ្រោប}}, {{lang|km-Latn|slœ̆k kontroap}}) are roasted and used as an ingredient for ''samlor machu kroeung''.<ref name=":1" /> In Java, the leaves are often stewed to flavor ''gulai''. Though available dried, the aroma and flavor are greatly inferior.<ref name="Norman2002" /> The oil can be extracted and used to make scented soaps.<ref name=":1" />

The leaves of ''Murraya koenigii'' are also used as a [[Biology:Herb|herb]] in [[Philosophy:Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] and [[Medicine:Siddha medicine|Siddha medicine]] in which they are believed to possess anti-disease properties,<ref name=":1" /><ref name="parmar">{{cite web |title=''Murraya koenigii'' (L.) Spreng |url=https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/parmar/12.html |publisher=From: Parmar, C. and M. K. Kaushal. 1982. Murraya koenigii. pages 45–48. In: Wild Fruits. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India. In: NewCROP, New Crop Resource Online Program, Center for New Crops and Plant Products, Purdue University |access-date=14 August 2019 |date=1982}}</ref> but there is no [[Medicine:Evidence-based medicine|high-quality clinical evidence]] for such effects.

The berries are edible, but the seeds may be toxic to humans.

==Propagation==
Seeds [[Biology:Recalcitrant seed|must be ripe and fresh]] to plant; dried or shriveled fruits are not viable. The skin must be peeled off, and this is recommended before planting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Peel Skin Of Curry Leaf Seeds to Grow Plants |url=https://curryleafplant.com/blogs/how-to-grow-curry-leaf-plants/how-to-peel-skin-of-curry-leaf-seeds-to-grow-plants |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Curry Leaf Plants |date=27 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref> One can plant the whole fruit, but it is best to remove the pulp before planting in a potting mix that is kept moist but not wet. Stem cuttings can be also used for [[Earth:Plant propagation|propagation]].<ref name="miss"/> In India, it is mainly planted privately, but also cultivated commercially to a small extent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-07-23 |title=Indian Spices |url=http://www.indianspices.com/html/s062fclf.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723141734/http://www.indianspices.com/html/s062fclf.htm |archive-date=2008-07-23  |access-date=2022-09-23 }}</ref>

==Chemical constituents==
[[File:Girinimbine.png|thumb|Chemical structure of girinimbine.]]
Compounds found in curry tree leaves, stems, bark, and seeds include [[Chemistry:Cinnamaldehyde|cinnamaldehyde]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sankar Ganesh|first1=Ravishankar Rai|title=In vitro antibiofilm activity of ''Murraya koenigii'' essential oil extracted using supercritical fluid CO2 method against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1|journal=Natural Product Research|date=2015|volume=29|issue=24|pages=2295–2298|issn=1478-6427|display-authors=0|doi=10.1080/14786419.2015.1004673|pmid=25635569|s2cid=220349399 }}</ref> and numerous [[Chemistry:Carbazole alkaloids|carbazole alkaloids]], including mahanimbine,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/167963|title=Mahanimbine|publisher=PubChem|date=2017}}</ref> girinimbine,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Girinimbine|title=Girinimbine|publisher=PubChem|date=2017}}</ref> and mahanine.

Nutritionally, the leaves are a rich source of carotenoids, beta-carotene, calcium and iron.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Drisya |first1=C. R. |last2=Swetha |first2=B. G. |last3=Velu |first3=V. |last4=Indrani |first4=D. |last5=Singh |first5=R. P. |title=Effect of dried ''Murraya koenigii'' leaves on nutritional, textural and organoleptic characeteristics of cookies |journal=Journal of Food Science and Technology |date=January 2015 |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=500–506 |doi=10.1007/s13197-013-1002-2|s2cid=96236829 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:774433-1 |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}}</ref>

==External links==


{{Taxonbar|from1=Q244731|from2=Q39837286}}

[[Category:Murraya]]
[[Category:Herbs]]

{{Sourceattribution|Curry tree}}