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
Mangrove Trumpet Tree/Tui (Dolichandrone spathacea)