Looking-glass tree (Sundari)

Heritiera littoralis

Beng/Hindi: Sundari

A middle-sized gregarious or spreading (when planted solitary) tree with oval-shaped leathery leaves that is dark green and glossy above but of a beautiful silvery color beneath. The roots do not penetrate to any depth into the soil but spread about on the surface with numerous stout offshoots, which stand out from the ground, often with narrow ridges forming plank-like projections above the soil and flat, narrow buttresses to the trunk. A mangrove tree, sometimes planted in Kolkata, but quite rare.

Bark:  Fissured, Peeling / Flaking / Papery with a buttressed and sinewy root system    

Leaves: Large (5-10’’), leathery, dark green and glossy above beautiful silvery color beneath (due to a layer of minute shining scales), hence the name " looking-glass tree"

Flower: Small, pinkish, borne in dense clusters in the axils of the leaves

Fruit: Shining, woody, nut-like objects encircled by a hard and sharp ridge or keel.

Season: The flowers appear in February and March, and the fruits ripen during the rains. Sometime a second flush towards end of rain after fruits of earlier flush have fallen.

Distribution: is a native of many coasts of the tropics of the Old World, including South India and possibly including the Sundarbans, where according to some authorities it is found along with allied species H. Fomes, though in much smaller numbers.

Trivia and notes: Sundarbans is (according to one theory) named after a closely related species, Heritiera fomes. This species (H. littoralis) is, much less common in Sundarbans.

Where to find: Extremely rare in Kolkata. One specimen in Rabindra Sarobar near the lily pool bridge (closest gate is Bengal Rowing Club (BRC) Gate, BRC). GPs: 22.50895, 88.35641