Indian Tulip Tree

Thespesia populnea

Bengali: Paras Pipul

a mid-sized quick-growing, evergreen tree with a rounded bushy head, leaves rather resembling in shape those of a peepul, and yellow hibiscus-like flowers which fade to dark purple.

Bark: dark brown rough, deeply cracked, fissured and often knobby

Leaf:  dark green, large, heart-shaped with a pointed tip and fairly long leafstalk

Flowers: Yellow funnel-like, with crinkled yellow petals and deep red center. They fade to a purplish tinge.

Fruit: Not prominent, a flattened sphere with pointy apex initially green, blackish when ripe

Season: Flowers almost throughout the year but beginning of summer the flowering peaks (mid-Mar - Apr).

Range/habitat: The tree grows near the sea throughout the tropics (from Africa to south India, pacific islands)

Trivia and notes:

Where to Find: In Rabindra Sarovar, Kolkata, the “famous” habitat of paradise flycatcher in one corner the safari park is created by this tree. Looks like it had fallen but survived and created a bush-like habitat. (this part of safari park is close to the lake as well as to Calcutta cricket couching ground. GPS: 22.51184, 88.35791