A Plant/Flower with hidden virtues

by Hem Bhandari
(Mumbai , India)

While travelling in the southern state of India,known as "Karnataka",I came across many wonderful sites,which are included in World Haritage Monuments list ,lovely plants and flowers and the fantastic Wild-life santuaries.I had to see for myself to believe that all these treasures could be located in the same state.It was indeed unbelievable.

Among the botanical charms,my attention was attracted towards a particular tree with lovely orange-red flowers which were in abundance.I was curious to know about this tree & flower,clicked few photos & gathered the details about them,which I am sharing;

The beautiful and sparingly known tree/flower is botanically known as "Butea monosperma".There are few
general names for it in English,such as 'Flame of forest', 'Bastard teak' & 'Parrot tree'.In Sanskrit it called "Kishunk" & in Hindi,it is known as "Palash"

Here are few photos showing the tree & flowers,from my Photo Gallery.

Interesting features:

It is the native of tropical & sub-tropical parts of Indian sub-continent,South-east Asia ranging across
Bangladesh,Nepal,Pakistan,Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Thailand
Combodia,Vietnam,Malaysia and Western Indonesia.

The tree is medium sized growing upto 15 Mtr. tall.
Flowers are Orange-red coloured and grown in racemes
upto 15 Cms long.The fruit is a pod 15-20cms long &

4-5 Cms. broad.Tree is used for timber,resin and flowers find use in medicine and natural dye.In India,its flowers were being used to produce traditional natural pigments for festival "Holi".The
gum from the tree is used in certain food dishes and
it is considered valuable by druggists due to its
astringent qualities and by leather workers because of is tannin.The wood of the trunk is used for making good quality charcoal.
It is amazing characteristic of its flower that it kills mosquitos.The mosquitos are attracted by the smell and colour of the flower.They lay eggs in the fluid within the flower but those eggs will never hatch.Mosquitos that touch this fluid can never escape from it.
Its Hindi name "Palash" lent its name to the town of
"Palashi",famous for historic 'Battle of Palashi'
fought there.
In India due to the mythological believe,this tree has
been known as "Agnidev" God of Fire .This was a punishment/curse given to Him by Goddes 'Parvati' for
disturbing Her & Her Husband Lord Shiva's privacy.

I am sure the readers will agree with my caption
"Plant/Flower with hidden virtues" for this wonderful
tree/flower.

Best Wishes

Hem Bhandari