Can you imagine life without trees? Forget about them being a thing of beauty for sore eyes for the moment, and just list out their uses.
Fruits are the mainstay to survive summer, and the first thought that comes to mind is the King of fruits, the mangoes. Called Mangifera indica , the fruit is indigenous. The English word “mango” originated from the Tamil word mangai . Even the Portugese called it Manga .
Neem is an interesting tree. It is also known as the “village pharmacy” as every part of it is medicinally beneficial. It belongs to the mahogany family Meliaceae . It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta , and is native to Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
The tender flower is an important ingredient in the pickle made during Ugadi and Tamil New Year.
Another fruit that can be commonly seen especially in the hotter climes of the South, is the nungu , the palmyra fruit appropriately called “ice apples”. The palmyrah treeb is known as Borassus flabellifer. It is similar to the coconut tree, but has fan shaped leaves.
Flowering trees abound in summer time too. Flame of the Forest in bloom would look like the tree is on fire, because of its blaze of colour.
Another spectacular show of colour is the Gulmohar, Delonix regia , it is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae . In Urdu “gul” means “flower” and “mohr” is “peacock”, thus the name suggests a spectacular show of colour, like a peacock's tail.
The Copper Pod, Peltophorum Pterocarpum , is a native of tropical Asia. The tree is also known as the yellow gulmohur — flamboyant yellow and the rusty shield bearer. It has vibrant yellow blossoms. When they fall, they carpet the ground that, in ancient Tamil literature, is said to look like a tiger reclining under the tree.
The golden shower tree, Cassia fistula, is also known as the Indian Laburnum. It is the state flower of Kerala and plays an important part during Vishu/ the new year. aragvadha
Tips for tree spotting
Evenings or early mornings are the best time.
Take a note/sketch book with you and a black/charcoal pencil.
Draw the trees and on the leaves and the fruit.
Paste a leaf or flower, along with your illustration.
Paste a photograph of the tree too.
Describe the leaf, flower and fruit.
Make your own observation of the tree as you describe it.
Cross reference by checking guides or the internet on it.
Indian date
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) was known to the Romans as “tamar hind” meaning Indian date. It belongs to the family Fabaceae , and it is indigenous to tropical Africa. Tamarind has many uses, not only in cuisines but also in medicine and in carpentry work.
It is an essential ingredient in many a tangy drink and spicy chutney. aloo tikis, kachodis samosas Tender tamarind leaves are sautéed with other vegetables like potato and used in salads too. Kings used to plant them on roadsides. This not only gave shade to the traveller but brought in income to those who took the trees on lease.
