Stereospermum chelonoides
Beng: Parul Hindi: Padar
Medium to large deciduous tree, grey bark which is without any branches up to a considerable height, leaves feather compound with 3-4 pairs and a terminal one, flowers in Mar, up to 1’’ they are purplish, bourn in clusters
Bark: Not rough, greyish or pale brown
Leaf: Feather compound, up to 2 ‘long 3-4 pairs of leaflets which are up to 6’’ and a terminal one, , lowest pair smallest, leaflets elliptic, velvety underside and short stalked
Flower: 1-2 cm long pink or purplish sepal cup bell shaped hairy. In large lax panicles
Fruit: roundish, slightly elongated with a pointed tip
Season: Flowers almost for a month in March, when usually the tree is leafless. new leaves also emerge at the same time.
Range/habitat: Greater part of moist deciduous forests of India (western ghat, Himalayas, north east). Extend east to Malay peninsula
Trivia and notes: An exceptionally popular tree among poets, song writer as well as in folklores. As a result, quite well heard but an extremely rare tree.
Where to find: Only one tree in Rabindra sarobar, Kolkata on the right of the road, some 30 meters towards Dhakuria gate from the junction of four roads (where there is a mahogany tree at the center on a round pedestal) near safari park (22.51222 N, 88.36060 E). This was partially damaged by Amphan cyclone but seems to be recovered well.
The Parul Tree in Rabindra sarovar, Kolkata
Parul Flower
Parul leaves