Indian trees

 

Indian trees are grouped into gardening trees, timber trees, medicinal trees, evergreen trees, deciduous trees, etc. Different species of trees are used for different purposes.

Classification of Indian Trees

Indian Trees can be classified in different ways. These trees are categorized according to their valuable properties and usages into decorative or gardening trees, timber trees, medicinal trees, etc. Indian medicinal trees have valuable medicinal properties and they are commonly used in the traditional treatment methods like Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic and Unani treatments. Indian Trees can also be classified according to the duration of leaf on the tree. Such trees are evergreen trees and deciduous trees. Evergreen trees have leaves throughout the year, whereas deciduous trees shed their leaves and turn dormant in winter. India has flowering trees as well as flowerless trees. Indian trees can also be grouped as coastal trees that grow in the coastal regions of India.

Coconut Palm Tree: Coconut palm, (Cocos nucifera), palm of the family Arecaceae, cultivated extensively in tropical areas for its edible fruit, the coconut. Coconut palms are found in tropical coastal areas nearly worldwide and probably originated somewhere in Indo-Malaya. They are the most economically important palm species, coconuts being one of the predominant crops of the tropics.

Evergreen Trees in India: The Indian Subcontinent provides suitable conditions for the growth and development of various kinds of trees. Evergreen trees are no exception in this regard. These trees have foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year. Various types of evergreen trees have been recorded in India. These trees are described below.

·         Jackfruit Tree: The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), also known as the jack tree or nangka in Tagalog and Malay, is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae).The jackfruit tree is well-suited to tropical lowlands and is widely cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the rainforests of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia.

·         Alexandrian Laurel: Calophyllum inophyllum is a large evergreen plant, commonly called tamanu, oil-nut, mastwood, beach calophyllum or beauty leaf. It is native to tropical Asia and Wallacea. Due to its importance as a source of timber for the traditional shipbuilding of large outrigger ships, it has been spread in prehistoric times by the migrations of the Austronesian peoples to the islands of Oceania and Madagascar, along with other members of the genus Calophyllum. It has since been naturalized in regions in the East African coast. It is also a source of the culturally important tamanu oil.

·         Sapodilla: Manilkara zapota, commonly known as sapodilla ([ˌsapoˈðiʝa]), sapote, chicozapote, chicoo, chicle, naseberry, or nispero, soapapple among other names, is an evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. An example natural occurrence is in coastal Yucatán in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species. It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization. It is grown in large quantities in Mexico and in tropical Asia including India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh.

·         Blackboard Tree: Alstonia scholaris, commonly called blackboard tree, scholar tree, milkwood or devil's tree in English, is an evergreen tropical tree in the Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae). It is native to southern China, tropical Asia (mainly the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia) and Australasia, where it is a common ornamental plant. It is a toxic plant, but is used traditionally for myriad diseases and complaints.

Kalmegh Tree: Kalmegh is a plant which is also known as “Green Chiretta” and the “King of Bitters”. It is used for various medicinal purposes and is bitter in taste.It is mainly used for liver problems as it protects the liver against damage caused by free radicals due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Kalmegh also helps to boost immunity and is used to manage the symptoms of the common cold, sinusitis and allergies due to its antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Kalmegh might be good for diabetics as it is effective in lowering blood sugar levels by increasing insulin secretion. It also helps in managing blood pressure by widening the blood vessels and increasing blood flow.

Palmyra Palm Tree: Palmyra palm tree is a tall and swaying tree well known as 'Borasus Flabellifer'. The word 'Borasus' was derived from a Greek word and it means the leathery covering of the fruit and 'Flabellifer' means fan-bearer. Palmyra palm tree belongs to the 'Palme' family. This tree bears a lot of names in various languages in India. For instance, in Hindi and Bengali, the tree is called as Tal, Talgachh and Tarkajhar. It is known as Pannei in Tamil language. In Telugu, it is called as Lulu or Tacli and in Malayalam this tree is named as Karimpana. In English, the tree has some other names except the Palmyra Palm Tree and these names are the Fan Palm, Brab Tree, Toddy Palm and Tala Palm. This tree is found in the drier areas of India, Sri Lanka, and Burma and also in most of the tropical countries.

Fish Tail Palm Tree: The feathery fishtail palms are native to humid forests of Asia, northern Australia, and the South Pacific, from sea level to about 6,500 feet (2,000 meters). Their lacy fronds make them special. Many palms are pinnate: blades grow along both sides of a frond's mid-rib. But only fishtail palms are bipinnate: each blade is further subdivided into leaflets. The bipinnate fronds give fishtail palms a feathery look, and they are also the source of their common name— the slightly ragged edges of the divided leaflets do indeed look a bit like a fish tail.

Sacred Trees in India:  Some of the Sacred Trees in India are Ashoka, Banyan, Peepul, Tulsi and Bael that holds religious importance among.

Peepul Tree: The peepul is in the fig family, with curiously heart-shaped leaves that taper off at the point in a small “tail.” Rather mysteriously, the leaves of this tree rustle even when there is no breeze to move them, which is attributed to the long leaf stalk and broad leaf structure. This tree, also known as “Ashvatta,” is purportedly the most worshipped tree in India. Banyan Tree is actually another type of fig tree, with large, glossy leaves and trunks that appear to be composed of a labyrinth of roots (called “aerial prop roots”). It grows around a host plant, often killing the original tree or plant in the process, earning it the nickname “strangler fig.” The banyan tree often represents the Trimūrti, the three lords of cosmic creation, preservation and destruction—namely, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Ashoka is a small evergreen tree, with dark green leaves and fragrant orange-yellow to deep red flowers. The name of this tree means “without grief” or “one who gives no grief.” Water in which the ashoka flowers have been washed is used as a protective and healing draught against sorrow.

Oleander Tree: Oleander, any of the ornamental evergreen shrubs of the genus Nerium, belonging to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) and having a poisonous milky juice.The best known is the common oleander (N. oleander), often called rosebay. A native of the Mediterranean region, this plant is characterized by its tall shrubby habit and its thick lance-shaped opposite leaves. The flowers are borne in terminal clusters and are of a rose colour, rarely white or yellow. The hairy anthers adhere to the thickened stigma. The fruit or seed vessel consists of two long pods, which liberate a number of seeds, each of which has a tuft of silky hairs.

Pongam Tree: Pongamia pinnata is a legume tree that grows to about 15–25 m (50–80 ft) in height with a large canopy that spreads equally wide. It may be deciduous for short periods. It has a straight or crooked trunk, 50–80 cm (20–30 in) in diameter, with grey-brown bark, which is smooth or vertically fissured. Its wood is white colored.[6] Branches are glabrous with pale stipulate scars. The imparipinnate leaves of the tree alternate and are short-stalked, rounded, or cuneate at the base, ovate or oblong along the length, obtuse-acuminate at the apex, and not toothed on the edges. They are a soft, shiny burgundy when young, and mature to a glossy, deep green as the season progresses, with prominent veins underneath.

Bead Tree: Melia azedarach, commonly known as the chinaberry tree, pride of India, bead-tree, Cape lilac, syringa berrytree, Persian lilac,Indian lilac, or white cedar,is a species of deciduous tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, that is native to Indomalaya and Australasia.The fully grown tree has a rounded crown, and commonly measures 7–12 metres (20–40 feet) tall, exceptionally 45 m (150 ft).The leaves are up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) long, alternate, long-petioled, two or three times compound (odd-pinnate); the leaflets are dark green above and lighter green below, with serrate margins.The flowers are small and fragrant, with five pale purple or lilac petals, growing in clusters.The fruit is a drupe, marble-sized, light yellow at maturity, hanging on the tree all winter, and gradually becoming wrinkled and almost white.

Indian Timber Trees: Indian timber trees have utility value in day-to-day life. Mango tree grows throughout India. It is well known for producing a fruit called mango, but mango tree can also be utilized for making cheap furniture, packing boxes, panels for doors and windows, etc. Palm tree grows all over India and is useful for making furniture, roof covering, rafters and joists. Tamarind tree grows throughout India. It is utilized for making agricultural instruments, well-curbs, carts, etc. Banyan tree grows throughout India. The aerial roots of Banyan tree are utilized for making tent poles and well-curbs. Bakul tree is grown in north India and is reddish brown in color. It is used for making cabinets. Benteak species of timber grows in south India and can be used for boat building and making furniture. Coconut tree is found throughout coastal India and is used for making poles, piles, furniture and formwork. Mulberry tree grows in Punjab.