Fragrant Padri tree / Parul / Padar

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.