I have made some notes for a write-up titled ‘Beautiful Trees for Central
India with Gwalior in Mind’. Comments are welcome. Main reference books are
by Pradeep Krishan, Bose and Chaudhury and Shakti Sinha.
1. Maulsari…….Mimusops elengi
WITHSTANDS WATERLOGGING
Tolerates shade. Also known as Bakul. A favourite of Gurudev Ravindranath
Thakur.
Likes warm and moist climate, but found suitable for hot and dry climes as
well
Propagation by SEEDS
1. Ficus benghalensis var. Krishnae….Krishna peepal
Curiosity value
Medium sized tree
1. Ficus elastica…Indian rubber tree
Native to NE India where it can grow as high as a 16 storey building.
Original source of natural rubber, later replaced by Para rubber from Brazil
30% of pottedd plants in US are Indian rubber plant.
Propagation: CUTTINGS or AIR LAYERING
1. Pilkhan or Pakad..Ficus virens
Strangler
Avenue tree, wind breaker
1. Peepal and Bargad ….Ficus religiosa and ficus benghalensis
Oldest peepal at Anuradhapur (Srilanka) where a branch of Mahabodhivriksha
of Gaya was taken by Ashok’s son in 288 BC. So now this tree is more than
2000 years old.
As the tree in Gaya died, a branch from the Anuradhapur tree was planted
which prospered.
Peepal and bargad considered female and male, and it is said that plating
the two together brings good luck to you.
1. Kanju or Chilbil…Holoptela integriiifolia
Large tree.
Prop.: SEEDS
1. Nyctanthus arbor-tristis….Parijat/harsingar
WITHSTANDS WATERLOGGING
SEEDS
Four trees in Hindu mythology have been variously described as KALPAVRIKSHA,
namely Parijat, Mandar (Erythrina), ficus benghalensis, kadamba.
Paarijat and Mandar came out of sea when it was churned by the gods and
demons. Parijat was taken by Krishna for his wife Satyabhama. Then Rukmini
insisted on having a similar tree and so Mandar was also taken by Krishna.
1. Indian Coral Tree…..Erythrina variegata
A delicate tree. Very few specimen can be seen in Gwalior. Mohite’s garden
had a few, but have been destroyed by insects, possibly termites. One of the
trees known as Kalpavriksha.
1. *Lagerstroemia speciosa
Small tree
WITHSTANDS WATERLOGGING
SEEDS
*Lagerstroemia thorrelli
Smaller bushy tree
SEEDS
*L. indica …crepe myrtle
Bush
CUTTINGS
1. Neolamarckia cadamba…Kadamba
SEEDS
Native of humid climate of NE, but found adapted to Gwalior climate. Some
good specimen at the Tourism Institute.
1. *Mitragyna parviflora….Kaim
Probably the real kadamba tree associated with Krishna as it is native of
Mathura-Vrindavan region.
1. Acacia auriculiformis, Earpod wattle….vilayati keekar
Quick growing, small tree. Has bottlebrush like spikes of yellow flowers.
1. Syzigium nervosum….Rai Jamun
Ripens in Ashadh (June). Lush green large tree.
1. Mussanda
Bush, only pink variety thrives in Gwalior. Not white or red. Likes
semi-shade
1. Silkworm mulberry …Monis alba
A darling of birds because of its fruit.
1. Phalsa
Small dep purple to black berries which are liked by birds.
1. Khirni…Manilkara hexandra
A tall beautiful tree. Edible fruit. Rootstock used for grafting of chikoo.
1. Mahua….Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia
Fast growing, evergreen.
‘Arguably the most valuable of Indian trees’. Flower edible, tribals in the
interir eat it as well as distill a liquor from it. Also used by modern
distilleries.
1. Maharukh….Ailanthus excelsa
Grows even in towns on its own. Nice tall tree.
1. Artocarpus heterophyllus…..Kathal
An evergreen tree.
1. Baheda…Terminalia bellirica
A local tree. Grows easily.
1. Kanak champa…Pterospermum acerifolium
Beautiful tree. Large atractive leaves. Flowers fragrant, keep their
fragrance long after drying.
SEEDS
1. Weeping bottlebrush…callistemon citrinus
SEEDS, CUTTINGS, AIR LAYERS.
Crimson bottlebrush…C. pollandi
Smaller tree 3-4 metres.
SEEDS, CUTTINGS, AIR LAYERING.
1. *Bauhinia variegate
Purple flowers fill the trees
SEEDS
**Bauhinia X Blakeana
The best of bauhinias.Large, deep purple flowers. Developed from an isolated
tree found in Hong Kong.
Only vegetative propagation possible. CUTTINGS
Bauhinia pupurea
SEEDS
*Bauhinia variegate ‘Candida’
White.
SEEDS
Bauhinia acuminata
Bush. White flowers.
SEEDS, CUTTINGS.
Pruning once a year is good for the plant.
B. galpinii
Creeper, orange coloured flowers. Likes milder climate.
SEEDS. AIR LAYERING.
B. tomentosa
Bush. Yellow flowers.
Almost all the varieties of Bauhinias suit Gwalior climate to the T. A
pleasant flower which has not been used much.
1. Butea monosperma, Flame of the Forest….Palash
Frost hardy, drought resistant, TOLERANT TO SALINITY.
SEEDS
26. **Tecoma goudichaudi/castanifolia…flowers in bunches
Tecoma stans…flowers singly
Small tree or large bush. Easily grown. Grows fast. Flowers the next year,
almost through the year. Ideal for Gwalior.
Needs yearly pruning to keep the tree in shape.
SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATERLOGGING.
1. Adansonia digitata, Baobab tree.
Huge tree, lives for maybe 3000 years. Unusually thick trunk at the bottom.
Tree reputedly carries 500 liters of water in the trunk. A desert tree
brought from Africa by the Portuguese. No specimen in Gwalior, but Indore
Residency compound has at least 10 of them which should be more than 100
years old.
1. **Floss Silk Tree. Chorisia speciosa.
Small tree. Introduced in Delhi on a large scale in 1950s. One of the most
beautiful flowering tree which is covered with flowers at a time when there
are hardly any garden flowers blooming (October). A white variety is also
there. Initially the tree looks like Kapok and is spiny as well which
however falls off later. Must try in Gwalior. Single specimen planted doing
well.
SEEDS SOWN DURING RAINY SEASON.
1. Semal, Bombax ceiba
Large tree. Flowers profusely. Much liked by birds.
1. Wild almond, Sterculia foetida.
Large tree. Pretty copper-cloured leaves before fall.
1. *Calliandra
Bush, with nice red or pink fluffy flowers. Long and curved billed
nectar-eating birds
(subird) like the flowers.
1. **Tabebuia argentea (yellow)
T. avallandae (Dark pink)
One of the most beautiful flowering trees. Suited for Gwalior climate.
Small tree. Specimen found on the road divider from Padav to Phoolbagh,
courtesy an industrialist. A couple of good trees in the Tourism Institute.
1. **Polyalthia longifolia ….Ashok
Stately shady tree.
**P. longifolia ‘Pendula’, Mast tree
Gets deshaped if the mast to allowed to grow unchecked. It is prudent to cut
them at the top after they attain a certain height.
**P. augustifolia…Same as P. longifolia, but a smaller tree.
Ashok tree is ideally suited for Gwalior climate. Hundreds of trees can be
found in the town, most being Mast trees. Some old specimen can be found in
the old High Court building. They must be more than a century old. Some mast
trees in the Samadhi of Hardaul in Orchha could easily be 200 years or more.
**Should not be confused with Seeta Ashok which is associated with Sita who
spent her captivity under *Saraca asoca*. This is another beautiful tree
which likes semi shade, and has bunches of beautiful orange-red flowers.
1. **Cassia fistula….Amaltas
One of the most beautiful native flowering tree. The tree however is nothing
to look at, and has to be given support to save it from being twisted. It is
drought tolerant, and CATTLE REPELLENT, and therefore can be tried in open
areas as well. Strongly recommended for Gwalor.
SEEDS. In the wild the long fruit does not open on its own, and jackals,
bears, pigs and monkeys help in propagation by eating its flesh and passing
the seeds in the excreta. In the nurseries the pod is to be broken manually,
and the seed soaked in water overnight.
1. Cassia javanica
Flowers in bunches. Large tree. Tree has to be protected from hot dry winds.
Better to plant it with trees which can shield it. Dislikes transplantion.
Therefore sow in situ or in polythene bags.
*Cassia nodosa
*Suitable for saline tract*
*SEEDS *should be rubbed against a rough surface to help germination.
One good specimen at ‘Saket’ on Gandhi Road.
1. Spathodea campanulata
Suitable for tropical and sub-tropical climate.
SEEDS, CUTTINGS, ROOT SUCKERS.
36. Alstonia scholaris…Saptaparni
DOES NOT TOLERATE WATERLOGGING
Likes moist and warm climate, but has been found growing well in Gwalior. An
avenue of Saptaparni can be seen in the Tourism Insitute (IITTM). Has a
tendency to send shoots from the bottom of the trunk which should be removed
to keep the tree in shape. A beautiful shady tree.
--
Anand Kumar Bhatt
A-59, B.S.F.Colony, Airport Road
Gwalior. 474 005.
Tele: 0751-247 2233. Mobile 0 94253 09780.
My blogsite is at:
http://anandkbhatt.blogspot.com
And the photo site:
www.flickr.com/photos/akbhatt/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ten most common surnames of Indians: Singh, Kumar, Sharma,Patel, Shah, Lal,
Gupta, Bhat, Rao, Reddy. Cheers!
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