Sesbania grandiflora, also known as Agathi Keerai or the vegetable hummingbird, is a small loosely branching tree belonging to the family Fabaceae and genus Sesbania. Agathi Keerai typically means the green leaves of the plant, a fast-growing tree which grows in a hot humid climate and the tree is indigenous to India, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and also widely grown in Mexico, South West USA.
The tree is clad by several vernacular names agathi in Tamil, avisa in Telugu, agase in Kannada. The humming bird tree is also called as Falmingo Bill, Katuday, Katurai, So Dua and Paloma in different parts of the globe.
Vernacular Names
Sanskrit: Agasti, anari
Bengali: Bokful
English: Vegetable Hummingbird
Hindi: Agati, gaach munga
Kannada: Agase
Marathi: Heta
Tamil: Katurumurunga, Akatthi, peragati
Telugu: Avisi
Oriya: Agastee
Properties of Agathi Keerai
Anticancer
Anticonvulsant
Anti-diabetic
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antioxidant
Antiulcer
Anthelmintic
Diuretic
Immunomodulator
Laxative