Red flowering Tree - Saraca asoca, Ashoka Tree
raghu ananth
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Tribe: | Detarieae |
| Genus: | Saraca |
| Species: | S. asoca |
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vinod kumar gupta
J.M. Garg
The Ashoka tree (lit., "sorrow-less") is a flowering tree considered sacred throughout India and Sri Lanka where it is found. It is prized for its beautiful foliage and flowers. The Lord Buddha was born under this tree in Lumbini. Also Lord Mahavira renounced the world under the Ashoka tree in Vaishali. The Hindus regard it as sacred, being dedicated to Kama Deva, God of Love. The tree gets a mention in the Ramayana as the Ashoka Vatika (garden of Ashoka trees) where Hanuman first meets Sita.
The botanical name for the Ashoka Tree is Saraca asoca or Jonesia Ashok. It belongs to the legume family and genus Saraca. One of its varieties is a very handsome, small, erect evergreen tree, with deep green foliage. Its flowers are very fragrant and are bright orange-yellow in color and later turn red. Found in the foothills of central and eastern Himalayas, almost all over the northern plains of India as well as on the west coast of Bombay, its flowering season is around February to April. Another of its variety is larger and highly spreading. The erect variety (which appears like a poplar) is extremely common in the gardens of modern Indian households.
Other names for the Ashoka Tree include: Sita-Ashok, Anganapriya, Asogam, Asokada, Ashopalava, Asok, Ashok, Asoka, Asoka Tree, Asupala, Gandapushpa, Kankelli, Kenkalimara, Thawgabo, Vand ichitrah.
| Saraca asoca (Invalid Syn. S. indica) | Caesalpiniaceae | Sorrowless tree, Sita-Ashok | As per my records, I have pictures of its flowering in last of January'07, in Feb'07 & in the middle of March'07 in Kolkata. I saw it flowering profusely today (26/2/08) in Kolkata. Ritesh is regularly watching its beautiful flowers while on the way to office in Mumbai (22/2/08). In full bloom in Bangalore right now (28/2/08) as per Ranjini Kamath. Profuse flowering at Ashok Van in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai- Kiran ji. |
| Trees of Delhi states its flowering in the last week of March, peaking early in April. Beautiful Trees & Shrubs of Calcutta by Sh. R.K. Chakraverty & S.K.Jain states that it flowers from early spring (Feb.- March) to late spring (Feb.-March). | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka_tree | Saraca asoca (Sita-Ashok or Sorrowless tree) - indiantreepix | Google Groups | some useful links and Ashoka :-) - indiantreepix | Google Groups |
Stunning shot
Vinod
For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en
For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees, Landscape pictures etc., visit http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg
vijay kiyawat
-vijay kiyawat
