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What is Millettia

The Sustainable Green Oil Producing Crop of the Future

Millettia Pinnata previously known as Pongamia is a deciduous tree that grows to between 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 contains 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 the 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 thick long taproot make it extremely drought resistant and wind tolerant.
  • The dense shade it provides slows the evaporation of surface water and the 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.
  • Millettia 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 trees (5-7 years old) sequestrate up to 50 tonnes of CO2 per hectare, per year therefore providing a significant environmental benefit and helping in the fight against climate change.
  • Millettia Pinnata previously known as Pongamia, 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(green oil), and 40-60% seedcake

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