Khirni is a slow-growing evergreen tree of dry western and central India whose small, sweet, yellow fruits are sold in Gujarat and Rajasthan markets in early summer. Its timber is extremely hard. Nurseries use khirni seedlings as the rootstock for grafted sapota, chikoo, because it tolerates drought and poor soil. Tamil ulakkai palai is used for it, though palai also names other milky trees.
- Botanical name
- Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard
- Family
- Sapotaceae
- Tamil
- Ulakkai palai
- Hindi
- Khirni
- Parts used
- Fruit, Timber, Rootstock for sapota
- Habit
- Hardwood tree with small sweet fruit; rootstock for sapota
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Khirni
It is a medium-sized evergreen tree with dark, rough bark and milky latex.
The leaves are leathery, glossy, broad at the tip with a small notch, and clustered at the branch ends.
Small, cream, fragrant flowers grow in the leaf axils.
The fruit is a small oval berry about one to two centimetres long, turning yellow and sweet when ripe, with one or two shiny seeds.
Sapota, Manilkara zapota, has larger, pointed leaves and much bigger brown fruit.
Traditional use of Khirni
Kitchen
Ripe khirni is eaten fresh in April and May, and dried khirni is sold like raisins.
Gujarati and Rajasthani food practice
Farming
Sapota scions are grafted onto khirni seedlings to make hardy, long-lived chikoo trees.
Indian nursery practice
Timber
The hard, heavy wood was used for oil-press beams, pestles and tool handles.
Indian village practice
Modern notes on Khirni
The fruit is rich in sugars and supplies iron and vitamin C.
Khirni rootstock makes sapota trees more tolerant of drought and salty soil.
Studies on its extracts are mostly laboratory work.
Khirni safety
The ripe fruit is a safe food. Eat only fully ripe fruit, since unripe khirni is astringent and full of latex.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows wild in dry forests of Gujarat, Rajasthan, central India and Sri Lanka.
Birds and bats eat the fruits.
It is very slow-growing and long-lived.
Related plants
Also in Sapotaceae
Questions about Khirni
Is khirni related to chikoo?
Yes. Both are Manilkara species.
When is khirni in season?
April and May.
Why is Khirni used as a rootstock?
It tolerates drought and poor soil.
What does Khirni taste like?
Sweet, slightly milky.
Is the wood of Khirni useful?
Yes. It is very hard and heavy.
Sources
- Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q2813879 (Manilkara hexandra)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.