Agathi Keerai (in Tamil Nadu) in different Indian languages:

Agathi Keerai in English – Vegetable Humming Bird Tree Leaves

Telugu: Agise

Hindi: Agasti

Kannada – Agastya

Malayalam -Agathi

Germination Tips:

Agathi seeds have hard skin, so below steps needs to be performed for better germination.

Boil water to 100 degree celcious in a container

Allow it to cool down to 80 degree celcious

Soak the seeds in the hot water for 2 to 3 minutes

Replace the hot water with cold water and leave it for 12 hours

Drain the water and leave the soaked seeds in a wet cloth in a dark place for another 12 hours.

End of 24 hours, you would see the germination. Now directly sow it in the pot or location.

Agathi keerai in Tamil, scientific name is sesbania grandiflora and in English the spinach variety is called as august tree leaves or humming bird tree leaves. There are two varieties of agathi leaves. One variety has white flower and the other one has red flower called as red august tree leaves. The common variety is white flower august tree leaves.

Taste of agathi leaves is bitter but has bunch of healthy values. The edible parts in this variety The tree grows 30 ft tall.   It helps to grow betel leaves around the tree.  Leaves, stem, root and flower of august tree leaves are used for medicinal purposes. The agathi leaves can be consumed in the form of juice, cooked spinach or medicine. The thin stem is used as a ingredient for good health medicines in siddha and ayurveda. It is advisable to take agathi leaves two to three times in a month.

MEDICINAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS

Agathi keerai can also be used to heal wounds. Just crush few leaves of agathi keerai and take out the juice from it. Apply this juice on the wounds and let it dry. Applying this regularly will help the wound heal faster. It is always good to add garlic to this keerai as garlic takes out the gastric property present in it. In spite of its rich medicinal properties it is advised that one should not consume agathi keerai if he is already undergoing a treatment for any other disease as it may lead to side effects.

Agathi keerai is good for ulcer. Even Agathi Keerai oil is good for hair.