Raman Ji. Nice and complete set of pictures. On Mon, Jan 2, 2012 at 10:37 AM, raman <[email protected]> wrote:
> African locust tree is a tall handsome tree, native of W. Africa. Large > trees are frequently found in old Mahomedan gardens about the city of > Hyderabad, Golconda and elsewhere. The farinaceous pulp which surrounds the > seeds is edible and so also are the seeds themselves, which taste like > garlic. For most part of the year, this tree is very easily confused with > Delonix or Jacaranda species. It is only during December-January, > appearance of tennis-ball shaped fluffy flower heads makes one realise that > this tree has to be Parkia! In the winter season, 1½ - 2 ft branches, > hanging from the leaf axil, bear rust coloured bead-like flower heads, > which gradually gain size of a tennis ball - and the "flowers" bloom to > spectacular white electric bulbs! The flowers in round white heads are > prominent, hence the native name 'Chendul' , or ball. Leaves bipinnate with > very numerous leaflets; rachis of leaf downy, 1 ft. of more long; pinnae > 20-30 pair, 60 to 100 pairs leaflets, rigid, 1/4 in. long. Presence of two > glands at the base of leaf, lends this species the name, biglandulosa. It > is an avenue tree in Chennai. This can grow into a large tree indeed with > many spreading branches. The leaves are fine and feathery. The > inflorescence is similar to a Badminton Ball hanging at the tip of a long > thick stalk - the reason for its common name. The fruits that are flat are > in clusters at the tip of long thick stalks. Known to grow quite fast. The > entire inflorescence has a very soft appearance. However, once the flower > is dry the core is pretty hard. Please do not even for fun try flinging it > at any one. It really hurts! > > Raman > -- B. Rathinasabapathy Project Co-ordinator Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park 1388, Avinashi Road Peelamedu Coimbatore-641004 <http://mail.google.com/subscribe.mhtml>
