What are multipurpose trees? Give the bo | Class 12 Biology Chapter Environmental Issues, Environmental Issues NCERT Solutions

Multipurpose trees or multifunctional trees are those which are grown for some purpose (deliberately or we can say intentionally) and gives more than one output or to serve various purposes. These type of trees give food in various forms like fruits, nuts, leaves which are edible as vegetables. They provides us habitat (some trees wood is used for making wooden house), shade, and fulfils the basic human needs. Some multipurpose trees with their botanical and local names; and their uses are as follows:-

1. Coconut palm (local name) or Cocos nucifera (botanical name):- This is used as food for making chutney, sweets etc., we can have juice from inside the coconut, firewood, shade or coconut oil which is used in making food as well as can apply on our body for the massage.
2. Neem (local name) or Azadirachta indica (botanical name):- Neem is used for various cures of diseases like leprosy (curable infectious disease which cause skin lesions and nerve damage), eye disorders, skin ulcers, fever, diabetes, gum diseases (gingivitis), liver problems, upset stomach etc. Their limited use as the insect repellent, adds nitrogen to the soil.
3. Banana (local name) or Musa paradisiaca (botanical name):- They serve various uses like their leaves is edible, raw bananas are used for making chips, vegetable etc., their broad leaves can be used as natural leaf platters, steamed leaves are used for packing or wrapping lunch and deserts.