Takoli / Chakemdia

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)