Mangrove Trumpet Tree/Tui

Beng: Gorshingha

Dolichandrone spathacea

Summary: A lofty slender tree with pale yellow fluted trunk. Leaves are around 1’ long feather compound with 3 to 4 pairs of leaflets and a terminal one.

Leaves: Arranged in opposite pairs. Leaflets opposite 2-3’’, on short stalk, 7-9 in number including the terminal one.

Trunk/Bark: Pale yellowish grey, much fluted, especially near base. Bark flakes off on small irregular pieces.

Flower: Pure white, very large, trumpet shaped (has similarity with Dhatura flower). Singly or is small clusters, usually at great height from ground. Hardly found on tree as it is a night flowering tree. The ground is usually strewn with flowers in summer months.

Fruit: 1.5’ long capsule an inch wide stuffed with corky seeds ¾’’ by 1’’

Seasons: By the end of the cold season most of the leaves fall and are replaced by new leaves in March or early April. Flowering is from March to May.

Range/Habitat: The tree is a native of Malaya, Sri Lanka, the Andamans, Myanmar, and the Sundarbans. Most likely not a native of Kolkata