Tag: Nature’s delights

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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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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. 

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. 

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!
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Fragrant Stars (ThursdayTreeLove)

These trees growing along the fence of a prominent hotel in Aurangabad were eye catching even from a distance. They had dark green leaves with mysterious shadows broken by the intermittent breeze. 

Fragrant flowers, Bakul, AUrangabad



On walking closer, I was happy to see that these were the Maulsari or Mimusops elengi . It was December and the tree was in bloom and the tiny star shaped flowers with their haunting fragrance made the morning more beautiful. These flowers are prized because they retain their scent even when dry.



Maulsari is called Bakul in Marathi and is found in many parts of India. It is a native tree belonging to the Sapotaceae family. The leaves are glossy green and have a wavy margin. It bears pretty red coloured fruit which is said to be edible (I have not eaten these and I dont recommend readers to do so unless they have confirmed information about it being edible). 


Red fruit, Mimusops, Pune
Bakul fruits – this image from a tree growing elsewhere

Pune homes and streets in Pune have Bakul. Does this tree grow in your city? Have you seen garlands of these fragrant flowers?


I am joning Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world. Better still, join in!
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Surreal (Wordless Wednesday)

Samanea, Leafburning, Pune

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!

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Heavenly (ThursdayTreeLove)

Travel, Trees, Pear, Blossoms

“Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven”
                             …Rabindranath Tagore



These Pear trees were in full bloom in Thimpu and I clicked these images at the Folk History Museum. If you are still gasping at their beauty, then here is a close up of the flowers! 
Thimpu, Bhutan, Sakura
Pear belongs to the Rose family (Rosaceae) and belongs to the Pyrus genus. 

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

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Twins (ThursdayTreeLove)

I spotted these trees recently. All efforts to take a ‘solo’ photo of them failed as it was a very busy road and vehicles simply couldnt be kept out of the frame. 
Going closer meant losing some part of the tree. 

Trees, Adansonia, Pune

 The twins look magnificent don’t you think??



So here is the Baobab that is called Adansonia digitata and belongs the Bombacaeae family. It is native to Africa and has been introduced to India hundreds of years ago. In fact, it seems to be quite happy here considering that it flowers and fruits happily. It can be easily identified by its palmate leaves and its huge trunk. The trunk is said to store water. In the above photo, the white flowers are of the Plumeria though the Baobab also bears white flowers.


I have seen this species at four other places in Pune and this was a new find for me! This is also my third Baobab post on my blog! 


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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You Choose (ThursdayTreeLove)

One a particularly chilly morning, I was trying to capture the colours of the sky as the Sun rose. As I checked the image, and despite not wearing my spectacles, I thought that something in the foreground was equally eye catching..

Sure enough, a closer look revealed that a Capparis was blooming and its flowers begged me to admire them too. Capparis grandis belongs to the Capparaceae family and its flowers characteristically have showy white protruding stamens.
Pachunda, Capparis, vetal tekdi
I was torn between the glorious sky and the beautiful flowers of this tree. 

I am unable to choose which is more beautiful.. 
I leave the choice to you!
🙂


This is my 40th post on this Label/Hashtag as I join Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove Blog hop. Its been a Tree(mendous) journey, one that I hope to continue to read (on other blogs) and share (here). So dear readers, join us on this blog hop to see some beautiful trees from around the world or better still, share yours!
🙂

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