Tag: Around the city in a MH-12…

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Holy Tree (ThursdayTreeLove)


What do you first see in this image? 
This photo has been taken by my husband to catch the first golden rays of the Sun reaching this small Maruti temple on our walk route. What struck me was the perfect V shape flare of the Peepal tree that grows right behind it. 


The Peepal is yet another Ficus variety common in my city and goes by the botanical name Ficus religiosa. It belongs to the Moraceae family and exudes milky sap when a branch is broken. This tree has typically heart shaped leaves with a long tail.. some of us have preserved these in books whereby they dry up and only the intricate venation is visible. It loses all its leaves in spring and is covered with lovely new red leaves. 

Leaf



I wonder if this lovely leaf could have been the inspiration for the famous Paisley design??!!


Unlike other Ficus varieties, I have not seen aerial roots on the Peepal. It is usually seen in temples and as a roadside tree often growing to a mammoth size and provides welcome shade for any and everyone! 

I am sure all of you must be familiar with the Peepal. And its a popular tree on the fantastic ThursdayTreeLove blog hop hosted by Parul. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. If you have an image of a tree you like, then do join! 

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Hairy (ThursdayTreeLove)

Ficus is a species indigenous to our country and I found 35 different species of ficus on the Flowers of India website.


Amazing indeed! 


Today I have a Ficus microcarpa from the Deccan College in Pune. It is also called ‘Nandruk’ in Marathi. It grows to be a massive shady tree and boasts these delicate hair like aerial roots. These are very unlike thick aerial roots that develop on Ficus benghalensis . Its leaves and these thin aerial roots can easily help shortlist ID of this Ficus. Ficus microcarpa is a good choice to make into a Bonsai as well.
Along with Peepal and Ficus benghalensis, this Ficus species is seen frequently in Pune. Have you noticed it in your city? How many Ficus varieties have you spotted? The different species can be individually identified based on their leaves, inflorescence (Figs), aerial roots etc. All Ficus belong to the Moraceae family. Typically they exude a milky latex from the stem/bark if its cut and this feature is an important clue for family level identification when on the field. (Milky latex also seen in some members of Euphorbiaceae and Anacardiace families.)


I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over  to see some lovely trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

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Fragrant Twenties (ThursdayTreeLove)

The title must have surely intrigued you.. The image above is of a young Chandan .. Yes Sandalwood.. This species grows quite commonly on the hills of Pune and even in the city. Here are its flowers which are little smaller than a grain of Arhar Dal.. 

Flowers 

Chandan belongs to the Santalaceae family. Its botanical name is Santalum album. Another amazing fact about this tree is that it begins its life as a root parasite. The young seedling draws nourishment from specific host plants (for example Lantana, Morinda pubescens, Neem) but the hosts are not damaged. 


Thereafter it grows independently. 

Evergreen tree with opposite leaves

The tree has huge medicinal value. Its wood is yellowish, soft and used to carve decorative items. 

Fruit 

Chandan is famous for its fragrance but surprisingly, these flowers are not fragrant. Nor the leaves or bark at the age these images have been taken. The tree develops its fragrant oils only when it is about 25 years old. 


Aha.. hence the title 🙂 

Have you seen the Chandan tree or its beautiful delicate flowers? 
I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see amazing trees from around the world. Better still, join in! 


Have a wonderful healthy happy and prosperous 2020 everyone!! 
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Success (ThursdayTreeLove)

My city of Pune faces slow moving traffic every day as the existing roads become too small for the burgeoning number of vehicles. To accommodate them, roads are widened or new ones built which may require cutting trees. 


Nature lovers rightly protest such tree removals but a solution to the traffic has to be found. Tree transplantation is an option in some cases. 


I had only read about it but never actually seen the transplanted trees. 


On a particularly long walk a couple of years ago, I spotted these huge Ficus with profuse budding and a strangely lopped off trunk. A little survey of the surroundings suggested that these  trees may have been transplanted for road/Metro works … The burst of young leaves suggested that the move was a success! 


There were several such tree trunks all planted in a row alongside a broad path. Notice that all branches had been cut off, just the main bole was planted

This trunk obviously seems to have been put into a hole meant to accommodate the tree

The root ball of this tree had a wet cloth tied around it 
A helmet forgotten by one of the workers perhaps…

Obviously transplanting trees must be a costly project and the tree may not survive the move. Plus, if the tree is really old its roots may have invaded underground pipes, cables etc so uprooting would have the ensure these systems are not damaged.


Seeing these trees was most heartening. The move seemed to have succeeded. 


What is your take on tree cutting for road widening? What is a Golden Middle Solution for the infrastructure stress issues that face our cities?

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world, and better still, join in! 
This is the last TTL post for 2019. Happy New Year everyone and have a ‘tree’mendous 2020! 🙂 🙂

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Dancing Trees (ThursdayTreeLove)

Nanded City, Guavas, Peru, Pune

These trees caught my eye from a distance.. the branches made them look as if they were dancing! 
Naturally, I was curious to identify the plants. 
On going closer, I found them to be our old friend.. the Guava … Not one or two but an entire grove of Guavas! 


When in fruit, it would be a feast for birds and people living there I am sure. 
A visual treat for the rest of the year!

Guava goes by the botanical name of Psidium guajava and belongs to the Myrtaceae family. It bears pretty flowers and the tree bark is typically smooth and peeling. 


Have you seen the Guava tree? Do you enjoy to eat Guavas?


I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

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Tree Frame (ThursdayTreeLove)



This was the view that greeted me as I paused to catch my breath when climbing this hill. The trees seemed a perfect frame for the river Moshi which is one of the tributaries of Pune’s Mutha River. It has a dam at Varasgaon and this is the backwater area. 


We walked up at the start of June, when the city was facing a severe water crisis. The south westerlies seemed to be bringing in hoards of clouds which filled the entire sky. 

For a change, the view kept me away from trying to identify the trees… Also they were on the slope and I was not keen on going too close to them. They are likely to be Jamun or Ain, two species which were common in that area.


I am joining Parul in her bimonthly ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see lovely trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

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Green Cups (ThursdayTreeLove)

From afar, this Ficus looked like any other Ficus benghalensis and I almost gave it a miss. 
Yet something took me closer and lo behold!
I was seeing a tree that I had only read about and had yet to see..



Yes, its the Ficus benghalensis var krishnae  – the tree that boasts of cup like leaves. 
Naturally there are mythological stories associated with this tree specifically because of its leaf shape. The leaves are folded at the base to form a sort of a pocket. Don’t believe me.. see for yourself!




It belongs to the Moraceae family and is said to be related to the Ficus benghalensis or the Banyan Tree that we all know. With its aerial roots and spreading branches, this evergreen tree has an imposing canopy. 


Spotting this Ficus was the highlight of that tree walk. 
Have you seen the Ficus benghalensis var krishnae? 


I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

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