It is the time of the year when you see a sea of yellow all around and a morning drive through most parts of the city would greet you with golden carpets of fallen flowers, especially those of the copper pod tree. The copper pod tree, a native of South-east Asia, is also known as the Yellow flame tree due to its resemblance to the Gulmohar, thanks to its fern-like leaves.
Golden shower tree is the state tree of Kerala and evokes a sense of nostalgia in Malayalis the world over. It is associated with the festival of Vishu, which celebrates the prosperity and happiness associated with a good harvest. This year, the flowers have bloomed well ahead of Vishu and while some of the old-timers caution that it is an indication of a harsh summer, the sheer beauty of the blossoms brings an instant relief to the summer heat.
Golden Shower | Photo Credit: Madhava C Kurup
Golden shower is also the national flower of Thailand – its yellow flowers symbolising Thai Royalty. While these two trees account for most of the yellow canvas, Nile Tulip tree is another major contributor that is found in various parts of the city. As the name indicates, it is a native of East Africa and is grown as an ornamental tree, which carries terminal clusters of trumpet shaped flowers with a tinge of orange at the throat.
The Rain tree is a native of Central and South America and is one of the common avenue trees that are found in the city. They are tall, majestic with a well spread out crown and are a spectacular sight during the flowering season. The entire canopy is a mass of pink flowers with its distinctive white and red stamens and, needless to say, attracts butterflies, bees and other insects. It gets its name from the peculiar phenomenon of the leaves folding up during rainy weather or when it is late in the evening.
Gulmohar | Photo Credit: Madhava C Kurup
The proliferation of African tulip trees and Gulmohars across the city have ensured that shades of orange-red to crimson give a good fight to yellow. Both the trees are lit up with flowers – the Gulmohar, mostly shorn of leaves, is literally a riot of flowers when in bloom. A closer look at the flowers would reveal an elegant arrangement of four petals that are spread out with a fifth one in the middle with a spot of yellow and white. While the usual flowering time is April-June, we are seeing early blossoms this year.
African tulip tree spots flowers in clusters that are a warmer shade of orange with its large bell shape that attracts a variety of birds such as Barbets, Mynahs, Orioles, Parakeets and so on. You will often find squirrels running up and down the trunk, relishing the nectar of the blooms. The flower is a favourite among children – as the bulb holds a large deposit of watery nectar, making it an effective water pistol that can squirt the contents up to several feet!
Rain tree flower | Photo Credit: Madhava C Kurup
Any discussion on red would invariably lead to the seasonal spectacle – the Red silk cotton tree. You cannot miss the tall tree with a straight trunk and being deciduous, they shed their leaves in winter. During February-April, the tree breaks out into a rich array of bright red flowers, giving it an instant makeover. Cup-shaped flowers soon cover the entire branches, which are still devoid of leaves and the capsules that turn brown from bright green, produce white cotton-like fibre, which is used for stuffing pillows and mattresses. The tree is also known for its medicinal properties with the flowers, leaves, gum and bark used in the preparation of several traditional medicines.
So, the next time you are out walking, don’t just keep your eyes on the road – do look up towards the colourful canopy around you. Now, if you happen to be among the lucky few who have one of the trees in your own backyard, pull out a chair, pitch your tent, and get ready to be spell-bound!
(The author is a faculty member at Asian School of Business, Thiruvananthapuram.)