Ambedkar Garden, Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Ambedkar Garden, Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Nature Note From Mhow: Kanak Champa - A Beautiful Tree
Taxonomic Name: Pterospermum acerifolium
Common Names:
ASSAMESE: Moragos
BENGALI: Muskanda
ENGLISH: Maple-leaved Bayur tree, Dinner Plate Tree
HINDI: Kanak Champa, Muchkund
MALAYALAM: Karnikaram
MARATHI: Karnikar
ORIYA: Mushukundo
SANSKRIT: Karnikara, Kusesaya
TAMIL: Vennangu
TELUGU: Matsakanda
I have been seeing this tree in the Ambedkar Garden Mhow but I did not know its name. Thanks to Pradip Krishen's book The Trees of Delhi and to a google search I was able to extract a fair amount of information about this tree.
According to Pradip Krishen this tree is native to the moist sub-Himalayan tracts. The leaves of this tree are really huge. They can be upto 40 cms in length and almost twice as broad. No wonder that the tree is also known as the Dinnerplate Tree. The tree grows upto a height of 50-70 feet.
The flowers are enclosed within flowerbuds. These buds split into five segments and peel backwards like banana skins. Each flower lasts only a night. According to Pradip Krishen the flowers are 'deliciously fragrant' and are visited by bats. Pradip Krishen's book also tells us that the leaves and bark were used to make medicines for small pox and are still used to make medicines for wounds and itching.
The fruit is five angled. It has five sections when it opens as the photograph below shows. The sections have seeds neatly arranged in rows. Each seed has a wing on one side.
The bark is grey or grey-brown. The wood is used for planking.
Click here for more info. on this graceful tree.
Acknowledgement: The Trees of Delhi by Pradip Krishen.
The previous nature note from Mhow: The Coppersmith Barbet Goes 'Tuk, tuk, tuk...' Close
Hi Sampath.... thanks for your visit.... This tree does grab one's attention and Yes the flowers are very fragrant....
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dear vasudevan,
this is indeed a unique tree.
i wonder if the flower has a good smell...
the five sided fruit is also very unique.
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Hi Vasudha.. thanks for the visit, the comment and the lovely haiku...
your haiku reminds me of these lines by Joyce Kilmer: Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree... keep visiting please
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Hi komlet... .. it is a joy sharing these nature related observations with fellow bloggers... thanks for the visit and the comment... regards.. Dev
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Hi ro.. the internet connection at home isn't functioning so it has taken me some time to reply to your comment... these pics are from my camera SONY DSC H9)... and YOU are supposed to tell all of us the kannada name of this tree...
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hi dev
Greetings ,
sorry for the delay - seems to be my Mantra nowadays -
the pictures are simply stunning - reminds me of my good old Botany days -
a haiku for you
KANAK CHAMPA TREE
A VISUAL SENSATION
GOD, THE GARDENER !!
Inspiring Indeed !
Bye
Vasudha
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dev, though i have seen it in various places here but i do not know........about its identity .....thanks for sharing
very beautiful pics of the tree
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dunno why DEv,
first saw the pics and figured these would be very fragrant flowers, a fact confirmed after reading the contents of your blog....
are these your pics or from Mr.Krishan's book???
Where is the kannada name of the tree/ flower??? you are dead meat !!!
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Hi Bunty... Yes I was thinking that what I thought would be a not-very-noticeable blog post has attracted many a bee, oops blogger, ...
It is indeed a graceful and stately tree...
Thanks for the visit and the comment
Dev
p.s. Talking of Pradip Krishen's book I have an autographed copy...
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Hey Dev Babu,
Loved this blog! You have brought a very interesting tinge to this blog by mentioning the flowers name in different indian languages. I love Pradip Krishen's book too. Its one of my prized possessions....
Bunty.
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