Pilu as forest food can be cultivated and used in many ways as culinary item and medical treatment

 

Pilu or Peelu is a forest food plant whose botanical name is ‘salvadora persica’ which can also be cultivated as it is a quick growing plant and grows as a short tree or shrub. It is an edible plant since its fruit since its fruit, seed, leaf, bark, root are edible. It has both  nutritious and medicinal values.

It is also called 'toothbrush tree' which is a small tree or shrub with a crooked trunk similar in colour to sand. It has a pleasant fragrance like that of cress or mustard. The fruit has a warm and pungent taste.

The shrub produces small reddish edible fruits in clusters, which  juicy but a bit pungent but one can develop a taste for then. Its branches can be be used for brushing teeth.

By using culinary techniques one can produce juices, pickles, chattneys, etc, from the plant parts.