Very Nice, Raman... you do have a knack for finding the most unusual trees... love it usha di
========= On Jan 3, 8:53 am, Rathinasabapathy Bhuvaragasamy <[email protected]> wrote: > 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>
