Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.

Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.

Family: Lythraceae

Common Name: Queen Crape Myrtle

Hindi Name:  जरुल 

Description: Small tree of 7-8 m.  It is called Queen Crape Myrtle because it's the Queen of the Crape Myrtles, dominating with grand size and larger, crinkled flowers. The name Crape myrtle is given to these tree/shrubs because of the flowers which look as if made from delicate crape paper.Leaves oval- elliptic, obtuse -acutish, Epicalyx minute, thick. Sepals 7-8 mm long, 4.5-5 mm broad, in fruit spreading, woody. Petals 3.2-3.5 cm long, 2.1-2.5 cm broad, claw 5-6 mm. Ovary 6 mm in diameter. Capsule 1.7-2 cm in diameter, rugose. . This bark is used as timber. The large leaves are attractive in the winter  as they turn red right before they drop.