Flowering Trees: Pongamia pinnata (करंज)

Pongamia pinnata (Marathi: करंज) is mediun size tree. It is found everywhere in our campus. It is important larval host plant for number of butterflies such as Common Banded Awl (Hasora chromus), Common cerulean, Forget-me-not, Indian Sunbeam to name a few. Many Dark Ceruleans and Tailess Lineblue are seen nectoring on its flowers. It has  been seen flowering in months of December-Jan

The seeds after drying are used in bio-diesel making.

Flowers

Seeds	Leaves
Empty pupa of skipper on Pongamia pinnata

Flowering Trees: Red Silk Cotton Tree (शाल्मली / शेवर)

Flower of Red cotton silk tree

A large dark red/ magenta colored flower of "silk cotton tree" attracts every nature wanderer during summer trails. There exists a very similar species, white flowers is the sole difference. Flower with five petals blooms during spring months (January to March), while tree losses all its leaves as many other tree do. Many birds like drongo, jungle babbler, common crow etc. feed on the flowers. 


This native tree can grow up-to 30 m. Thorns on the stem and branches is its characteristic ID. Tree is largely famous as it bears its relation with a famous festival of Holi. In Konkan region, the decorated tree, decorated with Mango leaves and flowers, is worshiped.  Tree is then burnt in the night and Holi is celebrated. The availability of this tree is larger and confidently its leafless during the same month when Holi is celebrated. The fruits appear in the month of April may and has fiber inside. Often seen them flying with the hot summer winds. Fibers are used in the pillows by villagers. Wood is light and makes it use in building structures used in water. 

Quick Facts:

Common Name: Red Silk Cotton Tree (Sanskrit: शाल्मली / Marathi: शेवर)

Botanical Name: Bombax ceiba

Family: Baobab

Flowers: Large, red/magenta colored with 5 petals

Location on campus: All over academic area and hill side, a common tree.

Jungle Babbler feeding on Red Cotton Silk Tree

Wandering destination: Tungareshwar WLS

Cool water streams at Tungar WLS

Morning at Tungar WLS

Stunning destination for nature lovers. IT has something in every season. water falls and flowers in monsoon. Butterflies in pre and post monsoon season. Charming birds in winter season. Racket tailed drango, Asian Paradise flycatcher, Verditor are few notables.

To reach Tungar, take bus from Main gate to Andheri railway station. Frequent locals from Andheri drops u at Vasai road. Take share auto to "Tungar Phata" and then start walking towards WLS. Entrance is at about kilometer inside from the main road. No ticket is charged presently and no permission required for nature walk. One can either follow the water streams or the road. Another part of Tungar WLS is Chinchoti waterfall. Alight  at Naygaon station, catch share auto to reach Chicnhoti fata. 

Water stream, Chinchoti during December

Tungar WLS and Chichoti waterfall

Woods are lovely dark and deep.....Tungar WLS

Swapnil and Abhay sharing lite moents at Chichoti water fall

Wandering Destination : Matheran

Road to heaven?...Matheran

A famous tourist weekend destination and hill station. Pollution free zone due to some strict rules regarding vehicles and envioronment. Basically its a plateu at a height of about 1800 mt. Temperature in summer doesent go above 30 deg.cel. Pretty good destination for photography post-monsoon. Stunning waterfalls,  exquisite landscapes, mesmerizing fog, curvy roads, breath taking valleys, grand panoramas, drizzles, in short everything for memorable weekend. Birds in and after winter is good attraction.

We went there for butterflies three times in different season with different approaches. All the three trips proved miserable. Lifers for us was peacock royal sighting. Otherwise the common ones.

To reach Matheran, one can opt by-road option or peaceful local train option. Get down at "Neral" station and take a share taxi to Matheran. Toy train takes pretty long, about 1.5 hours. It may be fun post monsoon. During monsoon the train doesnt run due to land slide dangers. Taxi drops visitor at entrance. No vehicle is allowed further this point. Charge for Neral-matheran taxi is 60 Rs (March 12) and entrance ticket is 25 Rs (March 12). Parking charges as per vehicle type. 

Panoramic view of Matheran valley

Flowering Trees - Cannon Ball Tree ( नागचाफा / कैलासपती)

 

Flower of Canon Ball Tree

Bunch of flowers and fruit string

Second in the flowering Tree series, is the post on "canon ball tree". It is listed as rare tree and flower in India [1]. It grows up-to 80 ft high and flowers in around December. Flower has six petals. Reddish inside and yellowish outside. Tremendously aromatic and smell can be felt strongly in near-by area. Inside structure is horizontal "U" shape. This inner structure is the reason it is offered to Lord Shiva and hence name in Marathi, as some thinks.

This Brazilian native takes its English name due to characteristic canon-ball like shape of its fruits. Fruits have rusty colored hard shell and are heavy. Number of fruits are connected in string and tree bears them directly to the trunk. The Cannonball Tree possesses antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiseptic and analgesic qualities [2] and hence used for medical purpose.

Quick Facts:
Common Name: Canon Ball Tree
Botanical Name: Couroupita guianensis
Family: Barringtonia
Marathi Name: कैलासपती / नागचाफा/ नागलिंग
Location on campus: Only one in parking lot near staff club.

Flower close-up

Ref:

1. http://www.flowersofindia.in/catalog/slides/Cannon%20Ball%20Tree.
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couroupita_guianensis