Unseen Passage: Chyur Tree

Reading Comprehension

Chyur tree is commonly known as ‘Phulwara’ in northern India, ‘Chyur’ in Nepal and ‘Gophal’ in Bengal. It is found in the Himalayan regions at an altitude of 500 to 1200 metres. Chyur tree resembles an umbrella. This tree is large and shady with dense leaves. Its pulpy fruit gets a thick skin on ripening. People in the mountains call it Kalpavriksha. It is also known as ‘Indian Butter Tree’ as it produces oilseeds, which are rich in oil contents and at lower temperature transforms into fat and looks like butter or ghee.

Fertile, moist soil is required for planting and growing of Chyur tree. It bears flowers and fruits from October to January. As this tree blossoms, the atmosphere becomes fragrant and fascinating. The honey made from its flowers is of high quality and is full of nutrients. The oil extracted is called the ghee of Chyur.

Local people extract juice from its flowers and boil it to make jaggery. Ayurvedic physicians use it as medicine. The seed oil, honey and gur make the tree prominent in rural economy. Many cosmetic industries in India use a chemical called palmolic oil which is made from the oil of this tree. Oil cake left after extracting the oil is used as manure in the fields. This oil cake contains a chemical called saponin from which pesticide is made. If the chemical is separated from the oil cakes, it can be utilised as a nutritious food for animals. Chyur trees contribute greatly towards prevention of landslides and soil erosion. Its long and broad leaves have the ability to collect soil, water and food materials.

For the past many years, Government of India have been formulating various plans for making the country selfsufficient in edible and non-edible oils. Whereas, the wasteland development has been one of the thrust areas in the Government plans, on the one hand, the self-sufficiency in edible and non-edible oils has been identified as a timely demand on the other. Keeping in view of the above, the plantation of Chyur trees on wastelands throughout the Himalayan sub-tropical belt and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands would be a prudent and wise measure.

Q. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the different names given to Chyur tree in different regions?
2. When does it bear flowers and fruits?
3. How is jaggery made from this tree?
4. What makes Chyur tree prominent in rural economy?

Answer

1. Chyur tree is commonly known as ‘Phulwara’ in northern India, ‘Chyur’ in Nepal and ‘Gophal’ in Bengal.
2. It bears flowers and fruits from October to January.
3. The extracted juice from the flowers is boiled to make jaggery.
4. Chyur tree is prominent in rural economy because of the seed oil, honey and gur.

Q. Choose the correct alternatives:

1. The oil extracted from Chyur tree is called __________ of Chyur.
   1. the ghee
   2. oilseed
   3. fruit
   4. nutrient
2. The oil cake contains
   1. nutritious food for animals
   2. seed oil
   3. pesticide chemical, saponin
   4. None of the above
3. Why is Chyur tree called ‘Indian Butter tree’?
   1. It produces oilseeds.
   2. It produces palmolic oil.
   3. It is full of nutrients.
   4. All of the above
4. Which one of these oil used by cosmetic industries?
   1. seed oil
   2. edible oil
   3. non-edible oil
   4. palmolic oil

Answer

1. the ghee
2. pesticide chemical, saponin
3. It produces oilseeds.
4. palmolic oil