Description
Cabi Publishing Himalayan Soap Pod Tree by Choudhury Baharul I
Gymnocladus assamicus is an archaic tree endemic to the Eastern Himalayan region of Northeast India. Locally known as “Menangmanba-shi” by the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh (India), mature G. assamicus pods contain high saponin and are used traditionally for cleansing purposes and rituals.Major intrinsic and extrinsic factors that might be responsible for population decline are described. More importantly, the book highlights a very rare mating system known as “androdioecy” in which male and hermaphrodite individuals co-exist in the natural population. Overall, the book highlights the story of a critically endangered tree species with a unique biological and socio-cultural importance and will serve as a case study and reference for other similar species both locally and globally.