Mhow, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
May 2008, Ambedkar Garden Mhow
Nature Note From Mhow: The Jarul blooms....

Camera used: SONY DSC H9. 

Taxonomic Name: Lagerstroemia speciosa 

Common Names:

Giant Crape-myrtle, Queen's Crape-myrtle or Banabá Plant, Pride of India, Rose of India , Jarul, Arjuna, Motabandara


This tree is native to India. (Tropical Southern Asia, according to the Wikipedia article and NE and S. India as Pradip Krishen's Trees of Delhi tells us). 

This is not only a beautiful tree but also a very useful tree. The leaves are very effective in lowering blood sugar levels. They also have  very impressive anti-obesity properties. According to Pradip Krishen's book the seeds are supposed to be narcotic.  The timber is most sought after.


                 


                 

 

 

 

 

 

                


                



                 

For more information:  
(1) Wikipedia article on the Jarul  Click here
(2) Trees of Delhi (page 72) by Pradip Krishen.
(3) banabaherb.com  - A website dedicated to this tree
(4) A technical article on the anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties of this tree in Oxford Journals. Click here.

The previous nature note from Mhow was on the unlucky baby python.