Dalbergia lanceolaria ssp. lanceolaria
Summary: A deciduous native tree with slender drooping branches, feather compound leaves having 7-19 alternatively arranged small egg-shaped leaflets including a terminal one
Leaves: Leaflets are 1-2’’ rounded or notched at the end terminal leaf is slightly larger
Bark: Pale gray with yellowish tinge, smooth, often with roundish peel-off marks
Flower: small, pea-like, white with lilac tinge in clustered spikes, usually in great profusion
Fruit: Flat thin pod that contains 1-3 seeds whose outline visible from outside, very similar to shisham/shishu pods, remains green for a long time, and finally turns brown
Seasons: Sheds foliage in March, new leaves along with flowers in great profusion in early May, pods appear shortly afterwards and remain green for many months till next spring when they ripe and turn brown
Range/Habitat: Widely distributed in India from terai to peninsular India, but nowhere very common
Trivia & Comments: A very graceful tree. From its bright green feathery leaves to drooping slender branches to its lilac tinged profuse flowering where thousands of buzzing bees visit – everything is lovable about this tree. It is difficult to believe that British foresters used to butcher this tree as its wood was not considered as of commercial value. No wonder this does not have any common English name.
Where to Find: Rabindra sarovar, Kolkata has two. See the relevant page for location. Kolkata zoo also has a few (not yet geo tagged in this site)
A Takoli tree in Rabindra sarovar, Kolkata
Takoli flower and pods from the previous year
Takoli bark with characteristic roundish peel-off marks