Bishopwood/Tiger Tree

Bischofia javanica

Hindi: Kain, Pankain

A large, round-headed, deciduous tree with nearly smooth, dark brown bark. Shining leaves are trifoliate (bael-like) and bluntly toothed.

Bark: Soft, with angular scales

Leaf: Consists of three large, shining, pointed leaflets which are bluntly toothed. New leaves are bronze, old leaves turn red before falling.

Flower: minute, greenish, in drooping clusters. Male and female flowers are in different trees (dioecious).

Fruit: Pea-sized berry, blue-black or red, in bunches

Season: The flowers appear from February to April, when the male trees are sometimes with masses of hanging masses of pale green flower. The fruits ripen at the beginning of the cold season.

Range/habitat:  The tree is a native of the sub-Himalayan forests, Assam, Chhota Nagpur, Chattogram, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the western deccan peninsular, Malaya, and the Pacific Islands, but not of west Bengal.

Trivia and notes:  The soft bark is a preferred tree for tigers to sharpen their claws, hence the name Tiger Tree.

Where to Find:  Till date I have found only in Victoria memorial Compound. GPS 22.54471N, 88.34499E