Chorisia speciosa is an ornamental tree which has been introduced in India only lately. It is a native of south America. Similarly kapok is I think exotic. I am not aware of any sposored programme to promote these two trees. What Geetha must be referring to is the native silk cotton tree, which might have been planted by the farmers in Tamilnadu. I am frankly hearing for the first time time that it has deleterious effects on the ecology of the area. It is a darling of birds when it flowers. Is mono culture the reason behind harmful effects? Putranjiva is a native tree, large with shiny leaves. I am told that it is allergenic and in Lutyens' Delhi they are being cut. That Cassia Siamea is allergenic is well known. But bombax ceiba?? akbhatt P.S. K.C.Sahni in his book has mentioned a fast growing species Bombax insigne native to S. India andaman and Malaysia. Is this the culprit? Some member from that part of the country can clarify.
On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 10:13 PM, Barry Stock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Also, "Silk Cotton Tree" is the common name for Chorisia/Ceiba speciosa, > the pink-flowered green-trunked thorny ornamental cousin of Bombax ceiba and > Ceiba pentandra. It produces kapok, but of a lower quality than that of C. > pentandra. > -bs > > > On Aug 29, 2008, at 11:21 AM, Padmanabhan Geetha wrote: > > Can some one tell me about this phenomena regarding Silk cotton tree? > Hearing this for the first time.Forwarding this mail that came to me. > geetha > > > TN forest Dept forced to fell 'polluting' trees > Thursday, 28 August, 2008 10:33 PM > From: > "G Narayanan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Add sender to Contacts > To: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > Hi Folks - Please read this report and enlighten me? As far as I can > remember, Silk cotton trees (Bombax ceiba) are a native species, and > their flowers are an important food source for several species. > Perhaps the reporter has erred in identifying the species, or has > quoted "out of context". Perhaps someone knowledgeable about forest > ecology can confirm if the "facts" stated in the report are indeed > correct. I hesitate to ask - do we know anything about the ecology of > this species and whether any scientific assessment of the claims in > the report have been carried out? > > Thanks > > GN > > > > http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200808281221.htm > > Theni (TN) (PTI): At a time when the focus is on afforestation, the > Tamil Nadu Forest Department is facing a strange situation -- large > scale felling of cotton silk trees in reserve forest areas in the > district as these trees were found be be causing extensive damage to > the ecology. > > About 10,000 trees raised by settlers in Varushanadu, Vellimalai and > Megamalai hilly reserve forests have already been cut to protect the > flora and fauna, official sources told PTI here. > > They said the silk cotton trees, though providing a livelihood to the > settlers, harmed the growth of herbal plants native to the hills and > also turned out to be a parasite nourishing on the moisture and > nutrition of the wild trees in the forest. > > A silk cotton tree would suck water from four square metre range. > Besides, when the pod of the tree bursts, it causes pollution and > affects the health of birds and wild animals. > > The department realised that if the rare trees, native to the hills > perished, there would be a chain reaction affecting the fauna also. > > Birds, squirrels and other species of animals would not get their > food. The trees consumed a lot of ground water and would not allow > other plants in the neighbourhood to blossom and grow, said an > official. > For more read.... > http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/004200808281221.htm > > > > > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
