OROXYLUM INDICUM

[Col Bimal Sarkar]

Dear Friend,

                   In 1967 while coming back from Sikkim to Darjeeling,we stopped at the bridge on river Teesta.While walking on the road I picked up a trasparent papery substance and  asked a local person about the identity of the substance.He told me that it is known as CHAMPA . In 1983 Mr Kharto ( Tibetan instructor ) wanted to know about the tree known as CHAMPA to the BHUDDHISTS .I could not enlighten him as to me CHAMA was Michelia champaca.It was in Udhampur(1998),I opened a dry pod of Oroxylum indicum and saw the papery seeds inside I understood what CHAMPA means to a BUDDHIST.My friend Sonam told me that Bhuddhist use the pods and the seeds in worship of Buddha.This tree is very common at this place.It is known as Ullu in Hindi and Sona in Bangla.

          This is what S venkatesh tells about the tree,

 

                    " The tree is conspicuous in the forest when it bears its scabbard-like fruits which breaks open to release its flat,papery and winged seeds."

        Some of you may not like to receive the images I post.Please feel fre e to let me know so that I may not burden you with these.

Regards
Col (Retd) Bimal Sarkar
Mobile: 9434194942

[Ushadi micromini]

Bimal da: that's what I thought, that it was common only in the
himalayn foot hills...
but I have found it in Bihar, Chhatisgarh , Bengal ....country
sides...driving around... and here at eflorathere are examples that it
also grows well in the western ghats...


Nice to know...
Usha di
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>  Oroxylum indicum 1.jpg
> 57KViewDownload
>
>  Oroxylum indicum 2.jpg
> 112KViewDownload

[ushadi Micromini]

Yes, I know,   and NOT only ONE there are three Orozylum indicum trees there .... and now likely  many small seedlings... 
Usha di
======

On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 8:57 PM, K S Ray <kshoun...@gmail.com> wrote:

I think there is a similar tree inside Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary,
Narendrapur, southern Kolkata.

Regards,
Kshounish Ray

[J.M. Garg]

Connecting the reply in another thread:

"Oroxylum indicum is known as TOTOLA in Nepalese language. It is highly religious for Buddhists. Making most religious KHADA, page marking of Buddhists literature, religious decoration etc all are done by its white papery seeds. Its flowers are quite tasty when fried. Flowers are also liked by rhinos. However, the plant is also having some medicinal properties!!!!
Regards
A.P. DAS"

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg (jmg...@gmail.com)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1

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