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Common name: Portuguese man-of-war.
Latin name: Physalia.
Where to spot it:
At the water line along Mumbai's beaches, prior to the onset of the
Monsoon.
Size: Between 4 cms to 13 cms.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Purple-pink
bladder with ridged crest and green, blue and pink finger-like protrusions hanging
below.
If you happen to be strolling
along the beaches of Mumbai just prior to the onset of the monsoon, you might
see numerous translucent, iridescent, violet-blue, elongated 'balloons' strewn
across the beach. Their strange shape and colour might tempt you to pick one
up. Beware. For this is the scourge of the sea, the dreaded Physalia, also called
the Portuguese man-of-war. Although not inhabitants of the seashore, these are
often washed up on the beach by the brisk breeze blowing from the sea. Most
of them are small, measuring around 4 cm but a few may be as long as 13 cm.
In water, the purple-pink balloonish bladder floats on the sea surface. On top
of this 'float' is a distinct inflated ridged crest. Hanging down below the
float is a cluster of blue, green and pink finger-like protrusions, along with
one very long and a few very short, bluish thread-like structures. These are
called polyps. A Portuguese man-of-war is thus not a single animal, but a colony
of connected individuals (polyps), each serving a different function. The blue
tube-shaped polyps are for feeding and digesting the food, the green tapering
fingers are feelers and tasters, while the pink clusters are the gonads or sex
organs. There is also a long filament-like tentacle called the 'streamer' or
the fishing tentacle that continuously extends and contracts which is beaded
at regular intervals. Each bead bears numerous globules. These globules are
the poison-filled stinging cells called nematocysts. Venom is injected from
a tiny pore at the tip of the nematocyst.
The sting of a Portuguese man-of-war feels as if a hot electrified whip has
struck you. Its venom is neurotoxin, similar to cobra venom. Luckily, the Physalia
found along the Indian coast are small, with only one tentacle and cannot inject
enough venom to kill a human, though only 0.037 ml of venom per kg weight is
enough for a fatality. The stinging cells are normally used to catch prey such
as fish. In spite of having such a strong armory, Physalia has quite a few predators
namely the ocean sunfish, hawksbill turtle, and the violet sea snail.
Since Physalia visits our shores at the onset of the monsoon, one should be
extremely careful while bathing in the sea or beachcombing during this season
because even contact with the venom of a dead and dried man-of-war that's washed
up on the beach will do harm to human beings.
Meghana Gavand,
Research Assistant, BNHS
bnhs@indiatimes.com
Courtesy : Bombay Times
·
Mix pure dried neem leaf powder with Vaseline in the ratio of 1:5. This combination
can be used for repelling insects including 
mosquitoes
as well as for skin disorders, minor cuts, burns, wounds etc.
·
Boil neem leaves with water and add rose water while bathing to free oneself
from itching, excessive perspiration, etc.
·
Boil 10 freshly cleaned neem leaves alongwith cotton in a litre of water for
approx.10 minutes. Cool. Use as an eyewash in case of conjunctivitis, itching
etc.
·
Use pure neem oil mixed with coconut and sandalwood oil for treating hairfall,
premature greying, lice infestation, dandruff and other scalp infections.
·
To treat a sore throat without antibiotics, gargle with Neem leaf water to which
honey is added.
·
For acne, pimples, skin infections apply pure neem leaf powder mixed with water
to the affected area.
·
In case of sinusitius, use pure neem oil as nasal drops. 1-2 drops morning and
evening.
·
Boil 40-50 neem leaves in 250 ml for 20 mins. Cool, strain and bottle, refrigerate
and store to use as an astringent.
·
Chewing 4-5 neem leaves regularly helps in cases of hyperacidity and diabetes
it also purifies the blood.
·
Neem Oil has antifungal properties. 2 drops of neem oil put in the ear once
daily, at bedtime helps to cure fungal infection of the ear.
·
In jaundice, juice of neem leaves (15-30 ml) and half the quantity of honey
taken on an empty stomach for seven days is recommended.
·
Prevent breeding of mosquitoes by adding crushed neem seeds and neem oil to
all breeding areas. Neem products ensure complete inhibition of egg laying for
7 days.
·
Add 30ml of neem oil to1litre of water. Mix well. Add 1 ml of Teepol and spray
immediately for plant protection.
·
To ward off mosquitoes, add 5-10 percent neem oil to any oil light as a diya.
Courtesy
Neem Foundation
Courtesy: Bombay Times.
Have
you ever wondered that greenish grey stuff, which grows on tree trunks? Just
take a look at it after rains and it appears to "light up". But what
is this unusual form of life? It is an organism. No, this is not a newly discovered
organism. It is there from years. In fact, it is residing in many of the Indian
kitchens. Surprised? Well, this organism is called "Lichens", by the
botanists. These species are collectively called as "Stone flower"
in English, Pathar Ka Phool in Hindi, Dagadphool in Marathi,
Kalahu in Kanada, Kalpasi in Tamil, Rihamkarmani in Urdu and
Shaileya in Sanskrit.
Over 20,000 species of Lichens have been recorded so far, in the world. India
shares nearly 10 per cent of this Lichen flora with just over 2 per cent of
land surface.
Lichens are one of the most successful examples of a partnership between two
life forms. To the naked eye, a Lichen appears to be a single living unit, but
the microscope reveals that it is in fact two different forms of plant life,
a fungus and an alga, so closely intertwined that they appear as one. If seen
from outer side, the Lichen appears grey in colour. But if it is sliced with
a razor blade, just beneath the surface is a narrow layer of green due to the
presence of algae cells. Algae are plant-like organisms that grow most abundantly
in water. They make lakes and ponds green. Because algae contain chlorophyll,
they make their own food by photosynthesis. The rest of the Lichen is fungus
(mushroom group). The fungus protects the algae, while the algae makes food
for both of them. This mutual benefit is called symbiotic association.
Together the two organisms are far better equipped to cope with the life than
either partner by itself. Lichens can exist in extreme conditions where no other
plants are to be found. Lichens can live in hot, dry places as well as in arctic
conditions. They live on the rocks, on the grounds and on the tree barks. They
come in colours and shapes. Their choice of habitats reflects their differing
needs for moisture. There are three main forms of Lichen. The Crustose type
are prominent in bleak landscapes, they have adapted to the dry climates of
deserts and to Arctic and Antarctic regions. Foliose Lichen flourishes in evergreen
forests, whereas Fruticose Lichens prefer the humid air of seacoasts and mountainous
tropical regions.
Lichens are amongst the most significant biological indicators of air pollution.
Air pollution, habitat degradation, deforestation, tourism and fire are some
of the prevailing threats to Lichen. Many of these species are destroyed directly
or indirectly mainly due to lack of awareness even among the educated masses.
Therefore, any natural or man-made disturbances are bound to affect Lichen population.
Lichens show great sensitivity to some pollutants such as heavy metals and ozone,
but for the most part Lichens are injured by Sulphur dioxide. Large number of
fossil fuels, automobile emissions, and some industrial processes are carried
into atmosphere until rained out or deposited as dry particles or as gas. Sulphur
dioxide combines with moisture in the atmosphere to form sulfurous acid or sulphuric
acid. When this happens with rainwater, the result is acid rain. All these forms
of Sulphur are harmful to lichens and other plants. Lichens act like Sponges,
they take in everything that is dissolved in the rainwater.
Lichens are the least appreciated of medicinal flora. Although, they are found
in all sorts of nooks and corners, yet they are taken for granted for most part.
Their medicinal value is undoubted but is an aspect that is generally not known.
There are reports that some species of Lichens are to be used in Ayurvedic and
Unani systems of medicines. It is said to be effective in treating dyspepsia,
bronchitis, scabies, stomach disorders and many diseases of the blood and heart.
The smoke of this plan material are believed to relieve headaches. Recently,
Japanese scientists have discovered that some polysaccharide extracted from
a Lichen species, inhibits cytopathic effect of HIV and suppresses the HIV-antigen
expression in cells.
In comparison to flowering plants, Lichens have been very poorly explored. Despite
their value, dominance and ubiquitousness, they have been neglected. So close
is the relationship between a fungus and an alga that they reproduce together.
Both the fungus and alga work in unison so successfully that, if left undisturbed,
this odd couple may live for centuries! Thus I would like to conclude by requesting
the young cupid couple out there. Don't show your love by carving on the trees,
because there might be chances of hurting this unsung odd couple called Lichen
whose intimacy began years before you.
Priti Sawant,
Educational assistant, BNHS
Courtesy: Bombay Times
Tree Bute
…. Get to know Mumbai's trees
Name in English: Peepal, Bodhi or Bo Tree
Marathi: Pimpal
Hindi: Peepal
Latin name: Ficus religiosa, Ficus means 'fig' and religiosa means 'sacred'
Characteristics:
A large tree with branches spreading in all directions, which gives a good symmetrical
shape to the crown. The leaves have long stalks and are simple, thin, shinning,
heart shaped, the apex tapering into long narrow strips and wavy margins.
Where to find:
Commonly seen planted near temples and inside housing societies.
As a child, looking at a peepal sapling growing behind old building walls, I
wondered who planted the peepal there? Now I know who the gardeners were. Peepal
is a fig tree and on ripening the dark yellow figs attract lots of birds such
as crows, pigeons, bulbuls and even monkeys and squirrels. The undigested seeds
are spread by these gardeners through their droppings.
But have you ever seen the peepal flowering? Probably not.
This is because the fig itself is a flower. There are minute flowers inside
the fleshy fig which are pollinated by a special insect called the fig wasp.
The bonding between the tree and the tiny wasp is unique, as if made for each
other. True, the insect cannot reproduce without the fig and the tree cannot
produce seeds without the insect. The pollinator enters through a hole at a
tip of the fig and lay eggs on the female flowers that are situated inside the
fig. The eggs hatch and mature into adults. While leaving the home, these adult
insects become dusted with the pollen from the male flowers that are situated
at the mouth of the fig. They then make their way into another fig and repeat
the process, thus ensuring pollination of other temple flowers.
Figs ripen in April and also between October - November, Leaves serve as a fodder
for animals such as elephants and is also the food plant for the Common Crow
Butterfly's caterpillar. It is an efficient anti-pollutant plant, and is believed
to purify the polluted air. It is one of the best shade-giving tree, but it
does much harm to buildings, sending its roots into crevices.
It is a long living tree surviving for more than 2000 years of age have been
recorded from our country. Peepal is the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha sat and
received enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. A sapling of the original tree from here
was taken to Sri Lanka by Mahindra, son of emperor Ashoka and flourishes there
even today. It is one of the most sacred trees in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka
and is venerated by the Hindus and Buddhists and is often planted near temples
and monasteries. Hindus have strong religious sentiments for this tree and therefore
avoid cutting this tree. Indeed an excellent method of protecting our trees
religiously!
V Shubhalaxmi
Education officer, BNHS
bnhs @ indiatimes.com
Courtsey: Bombay Times.
Local names: Amli, Imli, Chinch.
Botanical name: Tamrindus Indcia
Once upon a time the city of Mumbai had many tamarind trees. Tamarind trees
with dark stout bark and a large canopy were a familiar sight along the small
roads and outskirts. But now they are seen less due to indiscriminate felling
for its durable timber, which is valued a lot. This tree is favoured by egrets
to nest and flying foxes (bats) for roosting. There is a belief that harmful
vapours are emitted by the tamarind trees during night time and locals believe
that devils and ghosts dwell in this tree. Mumbai and elsewhere, planners and
tree lovers forget about tamarind during the tree planting season. Tamarind
tree grows slowly, but is known to last for more than a century. Today there
are comparatively few tamarind trees in the city of Mumbai.
The leaves are compound, dividing into ten or twelve pairs of small leaflets.
In May and June scented yellow and crimson edible flowers appears in terminal
and lateral sprays. The pods are usually sickle shaped, but vary in size and
shape. Initially they are grass green in colour and tender but transforms into
brownish and brittle pods, as they grow old. They contain brown edible pulp
and are hard covered seeds. The pulp makes delicious curries and chutney and
is widely used as an inseparable ingredient in Indian cooking. It also makes
a good sherbet. The timber is used in making carts and also in oil and sugar
mills in rural areas.
Parts of Mumbai, like Chinchbunder, Chinchpokli and Tamarind Lane have been
named after this tree. In olden days, public auction were known to take place
at the Tamarind Lane in Fort area, under an old tamarind tree.
Tamarind pulp contains vitamin A and C. The ripe fruit is astringent, digestive,
carminative, laxative and cooling. Mumbai's leading physician of Victorian era,
Dr. Rustomjee N. Khory in The Bombay Materia Medica (1887) writes, that the
ripe fruit is used to quench thirst, cure intoxication from spirituous liquors,
and as a cooling drink for sunstroke. In fever with constipation, vomiting and
dysentery, the soothing effects of the pulp are well marked. The pulp and leaves
are boiled and are applied locally to inflammatory swellings. A gargle of the
pulp is useful in healing ulcers and the relief of sore throat. The powdered
seeds are used as a poultice for boils, and are astringent and are used in the
treatment of dysentery.
Today we find hawkers selling tender tamarind fruits outside the city schools.
There is an old saying that the first sign of pregnancy is a craving for tamarind
fruit, but of course, gynaecologists differ on this point.
Dr. Ashok Kothari,
Member, BNHS
Bnhs@indiatimes.com
Courtesy: Bombay Times.
Fly By
Common Name: Praying Mantis, Khandobacha Ghoda
Scientific Name: Deiphobe infuscata
Where to see: Sanjay Gandhi National Park & other forested areas.
Mantis belongs to order
Dictyoptera meaning net wings i.e. the wings have fine network of veins. They
are medium to large size insects with slender body. The head is small triangular
and can move freely allowing them to look over their shoulders. The mantis stands
on its four hind legs. The frontal pair of legs is modified to catch and hold
prey. Usually they are held together in front of the head as if in prayer therefore
the common name Praying Mantis.
According to their habitats mantis are well camouflaged and merge with the surroundings.
The bark dwelling mantis is dark brown in colour while others living in bushes
are green or appear like dry twigs. Those found in grasses are thin long grass
like. Some mantids adopt floral colorations and rest on flowers waiting to catch
insects coming to sip nectar.
The mantids are predatory and voracious feeder. They can remain motionless for
a longer period and imperceptibly move forward. When the prey comes within a
striking distance, the grasping forelegs are shot out and the prey is tightly
caught. The victim is brought closure to the mouth and devoured in no time.
The wings and inedible parts are dropped. After 'meal' the mantis cleans its
forelegs and await for another prey.
Because of their strange shape and posture they are also known as devil's horse
or soothsayers. The word mantis means diviner and the Greek believed that the
insects were able to see the future. In some muslim countries, it is believed
that the mantis always prays with its face towards Mecca and is a pious creature.
In Marathi it is known as "Khandobacha Ghoda".
The love life of mantis is short and snappy. The male mantis approaches the
female mantis at the risk of its life. Once the copulation begins the female
starts eating the male from head onwards and by the time copulation is over
the male is completely devoured. The male does not seem to be inconvenienced,
by this act of the female, as the centre (ganglion), which controls the copulation,
lies in the last segment of the abdomen.
The female is now ready to lay eggs from which the next generation will come
out. The female mantis lays several eggs (up to 400 in some species) in an egg
case or ootheca, which is frothy liquid at first but soon hardens to become
like sponge or thermocol. It protects an egg from predator but not from parasitic
wasps, which lay eggs in it.
Mantids feed on variety of insect pests and are useful for biological control
of insect pests. According to a note published in the Journal of Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) Vol. 12 a sunbird was killed by a mantis (Hierodula bipapilla).
There are 2210 species of mantids found in tropical areas all over the world.
In India more than 160 species are reported. We at BNHS have recorded 20 different
types of mantids from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Well camouflage and ferocious
they can easily be called "Wolves of the Insect World".
Naresh Chaturvedi,
Curator, BNHS
Bnhs @indiatimes.com
Courtsey: Bombay Times.
Indian Laburnum / Golden Shower
(Cassia fistula)
This
beautiful tree, a native of India, is found throughout the deciduous forests
and plains of our country right from the foothills of the Himalayas to Kerala
in south. It is commonly known as Amaltas in Hindi and Bahava in Marathi. It
is a small to medium sized tree with smooth grayish-green bark on young trees,
turning to brown and rough on older trees. The tree is very common on the hills
of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra.
The leaves are of compound nature and are shed in March-April every year. Amaltas is very conspicuous in the hot weather due to the long golden yellow flowers, which appear in April & May. Now is the right season to experience the beauty of this tree! The tree is almost leafless at the time of flowering and the flowering continues till the new foliage develops.
The fruit pods are long, rounded, dark brown and about 1-2 feet in length. The wood of tree is hard and is used to make carts and agricultural implements. The bark of the tree is used for tanning. The dark brown sweetish pulp is laxative and is used as medicine. In some parts of our country the pulp is used to flavour tobacco.
This is an excellent avenue tree for parks and gardens. The tree can be commonly propagated from seeds. Germination is hastened by boiling the seeds for five minutes to soften the hard coat, before sowing. The seedlings may be planted in the soil during the first rains. The tree is slow in growth and attains a good proportion only after about ten years.
GRASSES:
Grasses are family of plants, which has over 10,000 members. Grass stems are generally cylindrical and hollow, except in a few cases ass sugarcane, where they are filled with a soft tissue. Grasses have ribbon-like leaves with parallel venation. Their flowers are usually inconspicuous unless crowded into large bunches. They are not brightly coloured and scented, and do not attract insects or animals to pollinate them. Instead, they are pollinated by wind. More than half the grass plant's volume is out of sight, under the ground. The roots of grass plants are fibrous and form an intricate web under the ground. It is this, which makes grass difficult to pull out, and which helps to hold the soil.
Every year 6,000 million tonnes of our soil washes away! It ends up in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the sea. When lot of soil ends up in rivers, soil sinks to the bottom and raises the river bed, thereby reducing the water holding capacity of the river. This may also lead to floods! Grasses because of their special mesh-like roots, hold the soil tightly and do not allow it to get blown away by the wind or washed by water. They also help water percolate into the ground. When rain falls, grass cover on the ground does not allow the water to run away too fast. It slows the rate of evaporation, allows the water to percolate in the ground. All this helps to add more water to precious store of water under the ground. It is this water that we use to drink, irrigate our fields, and for hundreds of other important things.
The Giant Grass…
One of the tallest grasses is specie of Bamboo called Dendrocalamus giganteus,
which reaches a height of 30 to 50 meters!
Bamboo has always been used in building of houses, household articles like sieves,
winnowing trays, containers and furniture. Over 25% of the raw material used
for making paper are bamboo. In the wild, bamboo is important source of food
for wildlife.
Grasslands…
Steppes, Pampas, Prairies, Velds are all grasslands of different kinds. Grasslands
occur on those parts of the world where rainfall is too little to support the
growth of big trees, but not low enough to result in a dessert. Grasslands are
extremely fertile areas. Grasses are short lived and the dead parts of the grass
decay and provides a lot of organic matter to the soil in the grasslands. The
web of roots makes the soil crumbly and well aerated.
Natural grasslands once flourished on about 40% of the earth's land area. Due
to the indiscriminate rise in the human population, our need for food increases
and more and more grasslands are brought under cultivation. As the number of
cattle increase, grass is eaten faster than it can be regenerated. All this
has resulted in the depletion of the grasslands. India typical grasslands are
found in the high Himalayas. The rest of the grasslands are mainly composed
of steppes and Savannah. Steppes are found in Western Rajasthan and Savannahs
are found in Central and Eastern Rajasthan. Gujrat also has permanent pastures
and grazing lands.
One Kilometer of grassland
can support 18,000 kg.
Weight of animals of different kinds!
Compiled by:
Kedar Gore
Education Officer
WWF-India
Contact: 2078105/2075142/2071970
E-mail: wwfindia@vsnl.com
Website: http://wwfbombay.tripod.com/
When three atoms of oxygen come together and make up a molecule, the molecule is termed as OZONE (O3). Ozone gas has a pungent smell. It is a naturally occurring gas formed by natural processes in the upper atmosphere. Ozone molecules make up a very thin and sparse layer in the stratosphere. Most of the protective ozone concentration prevails in the 20 to 40 kms. stratospheric range. It is in this region that oxygen the parent gas gets converted to ozone by interactions with radiations from the sun. This is what we call the protective ozone layer.
The ozone layer plays a vital role for the life on earth. It absorbs the harmful Ultra-Violet (UV) rays thereby shielding the earth from damaging effects of these rays. UV radiation emitted by the sun is classified into three categories according to its wavelengths, namely UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. While UV-A passes through whole atmosphere, UV-C is completely intercepted by ozone and oxygen at higher altitudes. UV-B penetrates all the way to the earth's surface with only ozone being the significant absorber. With the thinning of the ozone layer, excessive UV-B radiation reaches the earth's surface and this extremely harmful for all the inhabitants of the earth.
Over the years human activities have resulted in the release of certain chemicals in the atmosphere, which react with the ozone molecules thereby destroying them. One of the important Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) containing fluorine and chlorine. The CFCs were invented early in the twentieth century and were considered a great boon to mankind. They are inert, non-toxic, non-reactive, cheap to manufacture and easy to store, and hence have many uses. Halons, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide are another group of ODS.
CFCs are used in refrigerators and air conditioners. Many containers (e.g. body sprays, household pesticides) which give out sprays use CFCs as propellants. CFCs are also used as solvents to clean electronic circuit boards used in phones and computers. They are also used in mattresses, cushions, styrofoam cups, packing material (thermocol) insulation used in cold storage etc. Halons are used as fire extinguishing agents. Methyl bromide is used in quarantine and soil fumigation in agriculture.
CFCs and halons migrate into the upper atmosphere after they are released. They are released into the atmosphere during the manufacture, testing and repair of the products they are used in. Because they are heavier than air, they have to be carried by air currents to just above the lower atmosphere. This is a slow process and can take ass long as 5 to 15 years. Upon reaching the upper atmosphere, CFCs are struck by UV rays and dissociate to release chlorine atoms, which can continue to catalyse the damage of ozone molecule for almost a hundred years. CFCs also act as Greenhouse Gases. That is, they trap the heat reflected back from the earth's surface. This makes the earth warmer. This phenomenon is called as 'Global Warming'. This may change the climate and the rainfall pattern of the earth. It also leads to rise in sea levels, leading to flooding in many coastal areas of the world.
When the ozone molecules in the upper atmosphere is destroyed, more UV radiation reaches the earth. Exposure to too much UV rays may lead to widespread damages to all life forms. It may increase the rate of skin cancers, eye problems and cataracts in humans and animals. The ability of the human system to fight diseases is also weakened. It affects plants by reducing leaf size and increasing germination time. Excess UV rays kills phytoplanktons-the base of the food chain in the waters. Thus the entire aquatic food chain is disturbed. Plastic furniture, pipes, etc. exposed to UV rays also deteriorate faster.
SO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
· Stop the production, consumption and release
of CFCs and other ODS worldwide.
· Use conventional spray pumps for insecticides
rather than the aerosols using CFCs
· Buy CFC-free refrigerators
· Handle refrigerators and air conditioners
with more care so that minimum repairs are needed. As far as possible the CFCs
in the compressor should be recycled and should not be allowed to be released
in the air.
· We should avoid Styrofoam cups and plates
during parties and other functions. Leaf plates or reusable steel plates and
glasses should be used.
· Use traditional cotton pillows and mattresses
instead of foam pillows and mattresses.
· Spread the message of "SAVE THE
OZONE LAYER" to all your friends and relatives.
Compiled by:
Kedar Gore
Education Officer
WWF-India
Contact: 2078105/2075142/2071970
e-mail: wwfindia@vsnl.com
webssite: http://wwfbombay.tripod.com/
Nature in All Its Splendour...
Did you know the month of May is the time when
the concrete jungle of Mumbai undergoes a transformation? The city appears like
a maiden decked in her finest jewellry, adorning a scarlet bridal costume. The
difference lies in the fact that the scarlet colour is the Gulmohur in bloom
and the golden jewellry are the golden flowers of the laburnum tree. The trees
bedecked with these bright flowers in full bloom seem to beckon the monsoon
with gay abandon!
There is an interesting story behind the arrival of the Gulmohur in India. It
is said that way back in the 17th century the governor of the Antilles islands
in the Bahamas, gave the name 'flamboyante' and 'Fleur-de-Pardis'
to this tree which was growing in his garden. This tree was found growing
in abundance in the islands of Madagascar, from where it is supposed to have
reached the Indian subcontinent.
Sitting under the canopy of this tree with scarlet flowers, one can look up
and get a glimpse of the blossoms hanging in large bunches with practically
no green leaves on the branches. The tree generally starts shedding its leaves
by mid March and the early flowers begin to make their appearance by mid April.
These flowers last for a long time.
The Laburnum with its lemon yellow seems to tone down the fiery red of the Gulmohur. Infact, there is a road named after the tree where the famous Mani Bhavan is located.( Mani Bhavan is the home where the Father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi resided whenever he visited Bombay [Mumbai]. Mani Bhavan today, has a museum of the events that highlights Gandhiji's contribution to the Nation). This tree is a native of India and like the Gulmohur it also sheds its leaves in mid March. Monkeys relish the fruit of this tree. I am sure many of us, as children have collected the bright red seeds from under the Laburnum tree!
Pramila Kudva