A khatta-meetha take on life around me through my presbiopic eyes!
This tree seems to be wearing a skirt!! That is what the magnificent stilt roots of this mangrove tree reminded me of!!
What do you think?
This is a mangrove species that I saw in the Sunderbans. They are adapted to grow in saline and brackish water and have special roots for support and to breathe.
I am joining Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove33. Head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world.
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| Pink white flowers in racemes |
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| Trees planted in systematic rows on Pune hills |
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| Lenticels on the bark. The branches grow vertically up and easily help identify the tree |
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| A Gliricidia seen against the morning sky
So would you say this beauty is flawed?
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove32. Do head over to see some amazing trees from around the world.
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| Notice the leaf shape and the flowers. This image of a Muchkunda located elsewhere |
Restoration works at the site have included creating a base of stones around the tree but I am not sure I really like that grey structure. Here are some more images
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| The newly restored temple and the Muchkunda Tree |
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| Looking up! |
Research has revealed that the Pterospermum acerifolium has some mythological importance as well. You can read about it here and here.
If you ever get a chance to visit the Tulshibag in Pune, do not forget to admire the magnificent Muchkunda.
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove31. It is a photo feature posted on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. Head over there to see some amazing trees from around the world!
This tree caught my eye for two reasons, the interesting growth on its branch and a profusion of greenery at the base of its trunk.
As I went closer, it was clear that this was a very old Peepal (see the reddish heart shaped young leaves with typical pointy tips). The tree itself seemed to be a mother for the several species growing on or under or around it providing shade, support and nutrition. It doesn’t seem to discriminate between them. I am quite sure several animals must have made a residence there as well.
I wonder how old must the Peepal be?
Here is a another view of the branches.. The brown growth is a fern called Drynaria quercifolia or Oak Leaf Fern or Pocket Fern.
This is at the Ananthapura Lake Temple near Kasaragod in Kerala. This temple is known for its resident crocodile in the lake but we did not see it…
My sister in law informed me that these hanging filaments were Spanish Moss. Google helped with more information. Tillandsia usneoides is its botanical name belonging to the Bromeliaceae family and is found commonly growing on oak trees. Since my post is about trees, I shall not go into details about Tillandsia but you can look it up here.
Aha.. that took care of the mystery! What I was seeing was an Oak and what I thought as its leaves was actually another epiphytic plant growing on it.
Here is a close up where the Oak leaves are visible.
To this day, the Spanish Moss-festooned oak remains one of the most dramatic trees I have seen.
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove29. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world.
According to the locals, this is a really old tree, a claim which was supported by its height and girth. The tree is the Devdar which goes by the botanical name Cedrus deodara from the Pinaceae family. The leaves are needle like and the tree bears cones and not regular fruit that we are familiar with.
There were several Devdars in Manali and in on the mountain slopes as well. Here is another one that I spotted. Its stem is twisted, I wonder why…..
The species is native to India and commonly found on the slopes of the western Himalayas.
Have you seen the mighty Devdar tree?
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove28. Head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world.
There are several of these in the complex so do take a while to spot and admire then if you do visit Qutub Minar. They have gnarled trunks with elliptic to oblong leaves with entire margins and arranged oppositely on the stems. We were lucky to see the fruits that were really beautiful glassy looking red globule like structures.
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| Leaves |
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| Fruits |
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| One of the trees has this massive trunk which has some infestation |
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| As you can see one of the trees has fallen possibly weakened by some infection or due to weather conditions |
According to my field botany teachers, this tree is a mangrove associate so how come its flourishing in dry Delhi is a bit of a surprise to me.
Have you visited Qutub Minar? Have you spotted these trees?
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove27. Head over there to see some lovely trees from around the world.
This is the time of year in Pune when the beauty of morning walks is enhanced many fold due to the haunting sweet fragrance of the Indian Cork Tree aka ‘Buccha’ (बु च्च ). The roads are carpeted with waxy tube like flowers every morning which demand us to look up at the tree. I never tire of seeing the inflorescence which looks like falling stars!! Notice the flowers in the accompanying images!!
Universally known as Millingtonia hortensis of the Bignoniaceae family this tree grows straight up and fairly tall. In fact, it grows in many parts of India so many of you will easily recognise this species if not the name of the tree. The genus Millingtonia is in honour of the English botanist Thomas Millington and Buccha is the only species of the genus.
They are night blooming and are at their most fragrant in the night and early mornings. I have not seen fruit formation in my city but I am told that fruits do form in Mumbai – I guess the pollinator insects choose to stay away from here 😉
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| Bell shaped flowers – next to a pen for size comparison |
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| Waxy petals and didynamous stamens which are peculiar to Bignonicaceae family |
The cream coloured flowers can be braided into a ‘veni’ but mind you this needs some skill and practise.
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| Veni is the Marathi word for a braid of flowers that worn to adorn hair. |
Buccha often gives out suckers that grow sideways which means ‘baby’ plants can be found to be growing next to the older trees. It is commonly grown as a garden tree and avenue tree as well.
Millingtonia is among my favourite trees one that I never tire of seeing, writing about – I have written about or mentioned in five posts so far 🙂
Have you noticed this tree in your city?
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove26. Head over to read about some amazing trees from around the world.
Update on 2 Nov 2017
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| Millingtonia leaf |
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| Leaf |
Here is an image of the leaf. Leaf can be described as Bipinnate, leaflets are opposite in 3-5 pairs. Leaflets are ovate, acuminate with rounded base.
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| Autumn |
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| White bark |
These are mostly deciduous trees which means they shed their leaves in winter. All seemed to have straight trunks. This was most obvious in the countryside, as the scene outside the window was blur of vertical white lines!!
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| View from the bus window |
An article I read online, mentions that during the World War II, Birch wood was used to build the Hercules H4 which was a strategic airlift flying airboat. The aircraft is called “Spruce Goose” and is on display at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum at McMinnville in Oregon. Wow!!
Which trees have you spotted in your travels – for work or leisure?
🙂
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove25. Head over to seen some wonderful trees from around the world…
Strange as it sounds these trees do have a ‘sleeping’ habit dont you think?
I came across them in Moscow during our tour of the Kremlin. As yet, I havent been able to ascertain their ID and none of the locals around including our Guide could help me in this respect…
Why must they be horizontal? Flattened in some storm perhaps? Or is it the natural growth style of the species?
I wonder…. Any ideas folks??
I am participating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove24. Do head over for some fantastic trees from around the world.
