Lagerstroemia flos-reginae - Pride of India

[Subrata Mahapatra]

Its Hindi and Bengali name is Jarul. It is known for its nice flowers which are purple, violet or pink.
It is used as an avenue tree.
But why should it be called 'Pride of India' ?
In this context i may add a different perspective. This relates to Bangladesh. In the rainy season many districts of that country get flooded and all roads are submerged. In villages the only means of going from one Para(Pada) or house to another is by boat. The boat is therefore mostly prized. It should last preferably a lifetime. They found that the timber of Jarul is the best water-resistant. Hence the folksongs speak highly of Jarul and one often finds the countryside reverberating with boatmen's songs expresing his pride of rowing the Jarul boat. From this perspective Jarul is truly the pride of that country.
Regards,

[Dinesh Valke]

Thank you very much Subrata ji for this interesting information.

Incidentally, the flower of this tree happens to be the State Flower of Maharashtra ... known locally as जरुल jarul, मोठा बोंडारा motha bondara, ताम्हण taamhan.

Not yet come across description of its value associated to the state.

I keep wondering whether it is native to the state ... most often I have found it planted in gardens and along avenues.

There was a discussion on the subject of its nativity to Maharashtra State ... that - it is found growing wild in the Konkan ... I am not yet convinced.

 

Regards.

[singhg .]

The name Pride of India belongs to atleast two more species:

1. Koelreuteria paniculata

2. Melia azedarach

 

Lagerstroemia flos-reginae is now correctly known as L. speciosa


--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Associate Professor, Department of Botany, SGTB Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018
Phone: 011025518297; Mobile: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[subrata]

Thanks Dineshji for telling us that the flower of Jarul is the State
Flower of Maharashtra. It's a news to me though i spent more than 30
years in Powai.
Thank you Dr. Singh for for updating the name L. speciosa.
Regards

On Sep 20, 10:57 pm, "singhg ." <sin...@sify.com> wrote:

[Satish Phadke]

I have seen many naturally occurring huge flowering trees of Lagerstroemia in Nagothane and Rasayani and the adjoining roads. Unfotunately very few roadside plantations in My City Pune.
Dr Satish Phadke

2009/9/21 subrata <sub.ma...@gmail.com>

--

http:// satishphadke.blogspot.com