Pathanamthitta (Kerala): The fruits of the wild tree Baccourea courtallensis (scientific name), locally called ‘Mootti pazham’ in Malayalam is a wild fruit variety found only in the hilly areas of the Western Ghats.
The name ‘Mootti pazham’ roughly translates into ‘bottom-end fruit’. It is said to have been derived from the way the tree usually bears its fruit at the bottom end of its trunk.
It was about 15 years ago that K A Thankachan, from Konnithazham in Pathanamthitta district, bought some of these wild fruits from the wayside vendors. After eating the sour and mildly sweet fruit, he sowed the seeds of the fruit in his backyard. The seeds germinated to become plants and eventually grew into trees.
After 5 years, the trees started flowering for the first time. Thereafter, every summer the Mootti tree will be in full bloom. It is a real sight to behold, says Thankachan, The blossom is so enormous that the bark of the tree cannot be spotted as it will be completely covered by the flowers.
With the onset of monsoons, the tree starts bearing fruits. It bears the Mootti pazham fruits on the trunk.
The fruit is said to have many medicinal properties.
Initially, the fruit has a brown colour. But as it ripens, the colour changes to red.
The hard outer covering is removed and the fleshy soft inner core is eaten as the fruit.
The tree flowers in the months of March and April every year while the fruits would be ready by June and July.
The fruit is the size of a gooseberry and is somewhat sour as well as sweet.
Humidity and warm temperature of the hills in the Western Ghats are suitable for the growth of Mooti Maram, hence found in large quantities in the Sabarimala forest regions as well in the forests in Wayanad.
However, the outer part of the fruit is also edible and is used to make pickles.
