I have been searching for this tree called Peelu (Salvadora persica) for the last several months and I failed to find one.
The roots of this tree are used as a brush as it has antibacterial properties. I have used these roots to clean my teeth and millions of people around the world use it.
Humans have been using this since the last few thousand years or so.
It is native to Africa but it has travelled around the world.
A few weeks ago a historian visited my nursery. I had met this guy once and had telephonic conversations a few times.
He wanted to buy plants for his farmhouse and after he selected all the plants he sat down for a cup of tea.
I am always curious to learn new things and we ended up discussing local history for about two hours.
I had questions and he had answers.
And then he asked me if I can get him a miswak plants? I said I have been searching for it but haven't found it yet.
I had heard of rumours of some saints planting these plants in the city almost 500 years ago and I asked him if he knew the location of these trees.
He shared everything he had with him and then he said there's one tree nearby and he took me outside my nursery and pointed out at a tree on the other side of the road.
There stands a tall, green, healthy tree just 100 meters away from my place.
Finally, I found this Peelu tree and it was just right infront of me. I'll have to go there soon and collect some cuttings.
Some twenty years or so a saint who once prayed at the location had planted one plant from the same tree that was planted by his ancestors around 500-600 years ago.
It's interesting to see the history of each of these plants. I'll be meeting the historian in a few weeks or so to discuss more such history.
That is an incredible story where biology meets history. Thank you so much for sharing Imran.