Some extracts from Wikipedia link (for pictures/ more details, pl. click on the link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon-ball_tree
*Couroupita guianensis*, the *Cannonball Tree* is an evergreen<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreen> tree <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree> allied to the Brazil Nut<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_Nut>( *Bertholletia excelsa*), native of tropical northern South America<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America>and the southern Caribbean <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean>. It grows to 30-35m tall, with leaves <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf> in whorls <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whorl> on the ends of the shoots. The flowers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower>, which are borne only on special stems on the main trunk, are orange, scarlet or pink forming racemes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raceme>up to 3 m long. They mature into large spherical woody fruit <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit> 15-24 cm diameter, containing numerous (200-300) seeds <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed>. The pulp of the fruits oxidizes bluish, and has an unpleasant smell. Like coconut palms <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_palm>, the trees should not be planted near paths or near traffic filled areas, as the heavy nut is known to fall without notice. The trees are grown extensively in Shiva<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva>temples in India <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India>. It is called the 'nagalingam' tree in Tamil <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language>. The flowers are called 'Shivalinga flowers', 'Nagalinga Pushpa' in Kannada<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannada_language>, 'Nagamalli flowers' or 'Mallikarjuna flowers' in Telugu<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telugu_language>. It is considered a sacred tree among Hindus<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindus>because the flower resembles a nagam or a sacred snake on the central large shiva lingam <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingam> and numerous shivalingams around. Refer to *Couroupita guianensis*<http://sweetgum.nybg.org/lp/taxon.php?irn=133473>for more scientific information (including specimen data, distribution map, specimen images, field photos, etc.) about this species. It looks like the hood of “Naga” the snake, and the inner part of it contains the lone female part, stigma, sitting inside, as if protected by this hood of Naga. The Stigma is small in size and it looks similar to a Shiva Linga, with a small pedestal(Ovary of Stigma) and a small linga(Stylum+Stigma combined). Claimed medicinal values: In Ayurveda, Nagakesara(sanskrit) is used extensively as an anti-inflammatory medicine. The volatile oils from the flowers are claimed to possess anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. 2009/4/5 kalluri subramanyam <[email protected]> > These were taken at Sanjeevaiah Park, Hyderabad on 5/4/09 > > Subramanyam Kalluri > > ------------------------------ > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Invite them now. > > > > <http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_messenger_6/*http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/> -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
