A walk with Renee Vyas, the tree lover and naturalist who has conducted over a hundred tree appreciation walks across the city.
Siris Tree
Common name: Shirish, Siris, Sitapuspa, Woman's Tongue tree
Scientific name: Albizia lebbeck
The siris tree is a deciduous tree and is leguminous (it belongs to the legume family) and quite common in forests The seeds of a siris tree make a rattling sound in the wind in their pods (which is why a common name for the tree is Woman's Tongue tree)
The leaves are used for fodder, and the species name, lebbeck, is named after a location in Egypt where it was often planted along roads.
Bauhinia
Renee Vyas examines the leaves to identify the various types of Bauhinias. She says that the Hong Kong orchid tree is the most "besharam" because it has the longest slit in its skirt. The Bauhinia racemosa (or sona) on the other hand, is the most decent as it has the smallest slit!
She also tells us about how the Hong Kong orchid tree was discovered-- click here to hear this story, and learn more about these wonderful trees:
Guest Tree
Common name: Guest Tree
Scientific name: Kleinhovia hospita
The guest tree is an evergreen tree. Its flowers are pink, and its bark and heart-shaped leaves are poisonous, and sometimes used to kill head lice. Fibres from the bark can be used to create ropes for the tying of domestic animals. Its species, hospita- Latin for hospitable- may refer to the fact that insects, birds and parasites are supported by the tree. In India, the tree cannot be seed-propagated, suggesting that there is no suitable pollinator.
Mahogany Tree
Common names: Mahogany Tree, Large-leaved Mahogany
Scientific name: Swietenia macrophylla
A large, fast-growing tree first introduced to India from Honduras, Swietenia macrophylla has yellowish green flowers. The wood is often used for timber, and the seeds are used in traditional medicine. The seeds are said to show anti-inflammatory, anti mutagenic, and anti-diabetic properties.
Cannonball Tree
Frangipani Tree
Yellow Oleander
Putranjiva
Common names: Putranjiva, Putajan, Child-life Tree, Lucy Bean Tree
Scientific name: Drypetes roxburghii
Native to West Bengal, Putranjiva is an evergreen tree with dark green leaves and small fruit and flowers. Renee Vyas describes how the base of the leaf is asymmetrical, and how the seed can be used by parents to make a taweez (amulet) to protect the child.
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