Can anyone identify this tree?

vireya · Feb 3rd, 2008, 05:47

I photographed this tree in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. It was flowering in November, and there were not a lot of leaves on the tree, although the leaves that were there, were green. I don't know if it is an Indian tree, or from somewhere else. Any help in identifying it would be appreciated!

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...hp?photo=18145

I found the same tree in Lodhi Gardens, Delhi, a few days later. There were both pink and white ones there, but I only photographed a pink one:

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...hp?photo=18146

Thanks

PeakXV · Feb 3rd, 2008, 06:19

Purple Orchid Tree

machadinha · Feb 3rd, 2008, 06:27

Good find Peak. I was thinking an orchid, but wasn't sure if there are any that grow into trees. (Or are orchids epiphytes? Getting myself all confused now.)

Anyway from that link and its follow-ups I guess it's not technically an orchid at all, is that right? Can't say I know my plants very well. Nice flowers, that's for sure. Check this as well then: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhinia

vireya · Feb 3rd, 2008, 06:35

Thanks for the replies. There are definitely some similarities between the unknown flower and the Bauhinia purpurea. However, the stamens and style look rather different. In the Bauhinia purpurea there are several long stamens, in the unknown flower they seem to be all joined together to the style. Also the leaves are different in shape and growth habit.

wonderwomanusa · Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:07

I suspect that you have some sort of botanical garden in Melbourne and that they would be able to identify this from your photos -- so please let us know what it is when you find out!

I have a friend who works at a botanical garden library here and I will ask him to check, also.

m.bhattacharya · Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:16

This is a chorisia tree.It is commonly seen in Lutyens Delhi. I remember a programme on trees by Khushwant Singh where he covered it. Bauhinia has leaves looking like a camels foot.

Milan

Aishah · Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:22

Beautiful photo Vireya - the tree reminds me of that orange-reddish flowering tree in Oz the flame tree I think we call it. Wonder if it is related?

vandy · Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:27

Looks like a cross between a Flame tree & Hibiscus Flower.

vandy

m.bhattacharya · Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:30

The flame tree is Palash and has a rather heavy and fleshy flower while the hibiscus flower, used extensively by hindus for religious ceremonies has a tree that looks rather like a shrub. Both flame of the forest, and Bauhinia bloom in the summer. I have seen kids collecting Bauhinia flowers to ? Cook them/eat them!!

Milan

PeakXV · Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:46

Floss Silk Tree

m.bhattacharya · Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:50

Right you are Peak

Milan

Aishah · Feb 3rd, 2008, 09:07

Now that's the tree - and in the back of my mind sort of knew it because my sister has one in her garden! It's a beautiful tree indeed.

PeakXV · Feb 3rd, 2008, 09:13

... and Milan is the Gen(i)us on this mystery and wins the prize.

BTW - don't know how many times I've seen an unusual tree(flowering or other) in India where upon I interogate the nearest passerby for the name - and 100% of the time no matter how fluent their English is - get the hindi name for it - which 5 minutes later I promptly forget.

Aishah · Feb 3rd, 2008, 09:25

I'm still hunting for a book of plants where both the Hindi name and botanical English names are. Even Indian writers and compilers are using only the latter. It is very difficult to find one. The Hindi name is more useful for me here because this is the way people call their trees. I can't remember the names if someone tells me. I should have paper and pen at the ready at all times to write it down, but it doesn't seem to happen that way!

vireya · Feb 3rd, 2008, 13:21

Thanks to Milan for identifying the tree first, and to everyone else for your input. I'd never seen the tree before. I did ask a few Indians, but no-one I asked knew any sort of name for it.

So now I know - it is a floss silk tree, Chorisia speciosa, and comes from Argentina and Brazil, so not Indian! And it wouldn't like Melbourne's climate, not tropical enough, unfortunately.

Thanks again, everyone!

Feb 3rd, 2008, 05:47	#1
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 276	Can anyone identify this tree? I photographed this tree in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. It was flowering in November, and there were not a lot of leaves on the tree, although the leaves that were there, were green. I don't know if it is an Indian tree, or from somewhere else. Any help in identifying it would be appreciated! http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...hp?photo=18145 I found the same tree in Lodhi Gardens, Delhi, a few days later. There were both pink and white ones there, but I only photographed a pink one: http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...hp?photo=18146 Thanks

Feb 3rd, 2008, 06:19	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,200	Purple Orchid Tree __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Feb 3rd, 2008, 06:27	#3
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,588	Good find Peak. I was thinking an orchid, but wasn't sure if there are any that grow into trees. (Or are orchids epiphytes? Getting myself all confused now.) Anyway from that link and its follow-ups I guess it's not technically an orchid at all, is that right? Can't say I know my plants very well. Nice flowers, that's for sure. Check this as well then: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhinia __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:22	#7
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,039	Beautiful photo Vireya - the tree reminds me of that orange-reddish flowering tree in Oz the flame tree I think we call it. Wonder if it is related? __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

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Feb 3rd, 2008, 06:35	#4
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 276	Thanks for the replies. There are definitely some similarities between the unknown flower and the Bauhinia purpurea. However, the stamens and style look rather different. In the Bauhinia purpurea there are several long stamens, in the unknown flower they seem to be all joined together to the style. Also the leaves are different in shape and growth habit.

Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:07	#5
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,534	I suspect that you have some sort of botanical garden in Melbourne and that they would be able to identify this from your photos -- so please let us know what it is when you find out! I have a friend who works at a botanical garden library here and I will ask him to check, also.

Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:16	#6
m.bhattacharya Milan Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Posts: 79	This is a chorisia tree.It is commonly seen in Lutyens Delhi. I remember a programme on trees by Khushwant Singh where he covered it. Bauhinia has leaves looking like a camels foot. Milan

Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:27	#8
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 673	Looks like a cross between a Flame tree & Hibiscus Flower. vandy

Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:30	#9
m.bhattacharya Milan Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Posts: 79	The flame tree is Palash and has a rather heavy and fleshy flower while the hibiscus flower, used extensively by hindus for religious ceremonies has a tree that looks rather like a shrub. Both flame of the forest, and Bauhinia bloom in the summer. I have seen kids collecting Bauhinia flowers to ? Cook them/eat them!! Milan

Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:46	#10
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,200	Floss Silk Tree

Feb 3rd, 2008, 08:50	#11
m.bhattacharya Milan Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milton Keynes, UK Posts: 79	Right you are Peak Milan

Feb 3rd, 2008, 09:07	#12
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,039	Now that's the tree - and in the back of my mind sort of knew it because my sister has one in her garden! It's a beautiful tree indeed.

Feb 3rd, 2008, 09:13	#13
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,200	... and Milan is the Gen(i)us on this mystery and wins the prize. BTW - don't know how many times I've seen an unusual tree(flowering or other) in India where upon I interogate the nearest passerby for the name - and 100% of the time no matter how fluent their English is - get the hindi name for it - which 5 minutes later I promptly forget.

Feb 3rd, 2008, 09:25	#14
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,039	I'm still hunting for a book of plants where both the Hindi name and botanical English names are. Even Indian writers and compilers are using only the latter. It is very difficult to find one. The Hindi name is more useful for me here because this is the way people call their trees. I can't remember the names if someone tells me. I should have paper and pen at the ready at all times to write it down, but it doesn't seem to happen that way!

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Feb 3rd, 2008, 13:21	#15
vireya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 276	Thanks to Milan for identifying the tree first, and to everyone else for your input. I'd never seen the tree before. I did ask a few Indians, but no-one I asked knew any sort of name for it. So now I know - it is a floss silk tree, Chorisia speciosa, and comes from Argentina and Brazil, so not Indian! And it wouldn't like Melbourne's climate, not tropical enough, unfortunately. Thanks again, everyone!