Trees of Kolkata

Trees with peepal-like leaves (wider near stalk)

As you can see in the highlighted typical leaf of this type, we can visualize this leaf type like an egg, where the leafstalk is attached to the wider side. Though peepal has this characteristics, it also has a heart shaped shape and long tail-like tip which is peculiar to peepal.

Ficus religiosa

Peepal / Aswattha(Beng)

A very familiar large deciduous tree with heart shaped leathery leaves that have a long “tail” as well as a long leaf stalk. The leaves tend to rotate or flatter at the slightest breeze. A strangle fig that does have any aerial root.

Ficus bengalensis

Banyan

A very familiar very large evergreen tree with prominent arial roots and spreading almost horizontal branches.

Mangifera indica

Mango

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.

Polyalthia longifolia

Mast tree/Debdaru/Ashok

A familiar tall erect evergreen tree with long narrow shiny undulating dark green leaves. Grown for its thin erect shape and beautiful leaves. One variety (elonga) has more narrow conical form

Drypetes roxburghii Syn: Putranjiva roxburghii

Putranjiva

An evergreen tree with attentive drooping branches with dark green wavy-margined glossy leaves (resemble mast tree (debdaru) to some extent)

Terminalia arjuna

Arjun

A large deciduous tree, broad oval crown, usually buttressed trunk, smooth pinkish grey or whitish bark that peels off in thin flakes. Leaves long oval oppositely arranged

Ficus rumphii

Golden Rumph's Fig/ Mock Bodhi Tree

A smaller edition of the more famous peepal or ashwattha with less wide leaves having much shorter “tail”. with grey smooth bark

Trema orientalis

Pigeon Wood / Charcoal tree

A small to medium sized fast growing, short-lived, evergreen tree, leaves elongated, heart-shaped with a short leafstalk, wider near base and slowly tapering to a pointed tip, toothed and rough.

Mallotus nudiflorus

False White Teak / Pitali(Bengali) / Pindar/ Pindalu/Tumbri (Hindi)

A medium sized deciduous tree. Leaves are opposite, 4-6 inches long, heart shaped, leaf stalks are long (2-3’’). This is a dioecious tree (a tree is either male or female)

Thespesia populnea

Indian Tulip Tree

A mid-sized quick-growing, evergreen tree with a rounded bushy head, leaves resembling peepul, and yellow hibiscus-like flowers which fade to dark purple

Kleinhovia hospita

Guest Tree

A mid-sized evergreen tree with bushy growth habit, broad, heart-shaped leaves, bearing small pink flowers during the latter part of the rains or just after

Ficus virens

Pilkhan

A handsome, quick-growing fig tree with a dense crown of shining foliage, spreading branches, and a short trunk that is often knobby and irregular (similar to Peepal)

Morus alba

Mulberry Tree

A small tree with a spreading irregular crown with leaves that resemble Chinese rose (joba) but sometimes lobed. Originally from china but cultivated in India since so long that it has become naturalized

Gmelina arborea

Gamhar / White Teak

A large deciduous tree with peepal-like leaves and pale trunk. In Kolkata it does not grow that tall

Diospyros malabarica

Gab

A mid-sized spreading evergreen tree with gnarled dark bole and low, dense, dark green crown that becomes very conspicuous in Mar-Apr when startlingly red leaves emerge

Grewia asiatica

Phalsa

A small tree, or a large straggling shrub, coarse haired leaves are roundish with pointed tip with toothed margins on a short stalk. Young leaves are often pink or reddish in color.

Hibiscus tiliaceus

Sea Hibiscus / Mahoe

A much-branched evergreen small tree, with branches spreading from quite close to the ground, giving a bushy appearance. Leaves are large, heart shaped on long stalks. Flower yellow bel-shaped with a dark crimson center. Yellow flower turns slowly reddish during the day before the falling off

Bixa Orellana

Annotto

A small, evergreen tree or shrub with smooth, grey bark, dense foliage consisting of shining heart-shaped leaves set on long stalks. Flowers peach blossom colored, with 5 petals, The fruits consist of clusters of brownish red or greenish capsules covered with soft spines

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