Mango

Mangifera indica

Bengali/Hindi: aam

A large evergreen tree with thick, rough, grey-brown to nearly black bark, spreading branches, and a dense crown of dark green foliage. The leathery leaves are long and narrow, usually ending in a sharp point and often with wavy edges.

Leaf: Simple, alternately arranged, tapering 5 – 12’’ long with a strong, sweet resinous smell when rubbed or broken

Bark: Thick, rough, nearly black with shallow cracks

Flower: Tiny, strongly scented, yellowish, in stiff, erect, open clusters at the ends of the branches

Fruit: vary greatly in shape and size, and may be yellow, green, or red when ripe with a flattened stone withing yellow flesh

Season: The flowers usually appear from the end of January to March, and the fruits mostly ripen from May to July

Range/habitat: The tree is believed to be a native of the hotter parts of India and, although usually seen near the haunts of man, occasionally found as if truly wild in semi evergreen forests, where in suitable conditions they grow as giants, often 35 meter tall with a massive trunk.  

Trivia and notes: One of the most well-known trees in India and considered as king of fruits. There are innumerable good varieties grown in different parts of India.

Where to Find: Not so common as a roadside tree in Kolkata, neither it is common in parks like Rabindra Sarobar. There are a couple of fully grown trees in Rabindra Sarobar in the southern part of the lake (22.51015, 88.36016) where there are lots of cement benches