Pink (Wordless Wednesday)
Tender Shoot (Wordless Wednesday)
Ghostly (ThursdayTreeLove)
This tree was the first thing that caught my eye when I visited South Carolina. I was intrigued by the filament like structures growing on its branches and general ghostly appearance. The season was spring so I was expecting tender shoots or even flowers but this white ‘mane’ totally stumped me. As usual, I had a short list of common trees I was likely to see but this did not fit any description….
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.
Feeling Dwarfed (#ThursdayTreeLove)
Ever so often we feel dwarfed when next to some tall structures (monuments, mountains etc) or figuratively when we hear profound thoughts or deeds. Yet another occassion is when faced with monumental trees. Today I want to describe one such.
We had seen this one at a temple in Manali and I felt really small standing under it. The view as I looked up is in the image below and I could not see the tree top from where I stood. The branches created a dense mesh of sorts that filtered the sunlight as it reached the ground.
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.
Falling Stars (#ThursdayTreeLove)
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.
Green Pearls! (Wordless Wednesday)
Sleeping (#ThursdayTreeLove)
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.
Eyecatching (#ThursdayTreeLove)
These bright reds caught my eyes! Aren’t they beautiful???
I am paticipating in Parul’s #ThursdayTreeLove. Join in to see some wonderful trees…
Pooja (Wordless Wednesday)
Golden (#ThursdayTreeLove)
This is a Boswellia serrata of the Burseraceae family (locally called Salai). In the above image, the golden glow is due to the morning sunlight on its fading (hence golden yellow) leaves in the autumn. The hills in Pune have many Salai and its easily recognised by its peeling pale coloured bark. It blossoms in January though the flowers are not very conspicuous. The tree exudes an oleo-gum-resin which is said to have medicinal properties, as is the tree bark.
Here is the same tree in the monsoon – isn’t it a glorious transformation??
The following image shows the peeling bark. If you can zoom in, its possible to see a greenish layer beneath the yellowish papery peel.
Fall colours in the colder climates are a much sought after touristy delight, one that is high on my wish list. The deciduous trees in my city also display changing leaf colours in the autumn which are just as beautiful.
Have you noticed leaves turning golden in November every year?
I am participating in Parul’s photo initiative #ThurdayTreeLove. This is my contribution to #ThursdayTreeLove21