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| Five petals in Valvate Aestivation |
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| Close up of the stamens that are united to form a tube |
Hibiscus (Wordless Wednesday)
Summer Coolers (Wordless Wednesday)
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..
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!
Waiting (Wordless Wednesday)
Blazing (Wordless Wednesday)
Bananas (ThursdayTreeLove)
When walking on the road, discarded Banana skins are a big hazard in addition to indisciplined traffic, poor pavements etc. I always keep my eyes on the ground when walking .. besides spotting stuff I am likely to slip on, I am very often rewarded.
Yes Rewarded!
How?
By sighting some fallen flower or fruit which is the tree calling attention to itself!
Recently I was happy to see what looks like a discarded Banana skin.
A closer look revealed it to be the Muchkunda flower. Of course the pervading fragrance immediately confirmed its identity.
Yes Rewarded!
How?
By sighting some fallen flower or fruit which is the tree calling attention to itself!
Recently I was happy to see what looks like a discarded Banana skin.
A closer look revealed it to be the Muchkunda flower. Of course the pervading fragrance immediately confirmed its identity.
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| Banana skin? |
It goes by the botanical name of Pterospermum acerifolium and belongs to the Sterculiaceae family (Cocoa family). There is some confusion about exact the specific name so lets just say it belongs to the Pterospermum genus.
The leaves are large and typically Peltate which means the petiole is not attached to the end of the leaf but nearer the centre. This is clearly seen in the image above. According to this Indian Express article, the tree is also called Dinner Plate Tree as the leaves are threaded together to create a plate!
These are night blooming flowers which are pollinated by bats.
A handsome native species that demands attention and a sight for sore eyes.
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| Notice the fruit which is a woody capsule |
Have you seen the Muchkunda?
I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!
Hope (Wordless Wednesday)
Tree House (ThursdayTreeLove)
This is one tree that almost everyone would have seen, admired and possibly also know its name.
Thats right this is the Cassia fistula of the Caesalpiniaceae family. It is commonly called Amaltas / Bahava / Golden Shower Tree or Indian Laburnum.
The trees were in full bloom in Pune in April and its blazing yellow blossoms were actually soothing despite the mercury crossing 40Deg C. I did not complain having to halt at the traffic signal as I could photograph the lovely cascading flowers!
On one of these trees, I spotted a bird’s nest … It must be such a beautiful sight to sit among these beautiful fragrant flowers and watch people race around on the road below!!
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| Can you spot the nest in the centre of the image? |
Here is a close up of the flowers but from another tree some years ago..
Glorious is it not?
Bahava is easily among my favourite trees.
Have you seen the Bahava? Have you spotted any nest on it?
I am joining Parul in ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some lovely trees from around the world. Better still, join in!
Pink (Wordless Wednesday)
Surreal (Wordless Wednesday)
As summer sets in, a large number of trees shed their leaves. While the authorities do carry them away and people compost the leaves yet the volume is often overwhelming.
This means leaves are burnt irrespective of the sideeffects of this action.
Yet the smoke from such leaf burning created this effect on the early morning rays of the Sun as they streamed through the canopy of a Rain Tree.
I am joining Esha and Natasha on Wordless Wednesday. Hop on!