Sunday, August 22, 2010

Flowering Trees - Indian Cork Tree

Bangalore (State: Karnataka) is slowly changing from the Garden City to concrete jungle. However, some of the trees that helped it to earned its name, still adorned the streets of Bangalore. One such tree that can be seen around is Indian Cork Tree or popularly known in local language as "Aakash Mallige". In other words it is known as "Jasmine in the Sky"

This tree grows tall and straight, with the branches covered with whitish flowers. Though the flowers of this tree are not like any other bright ornamental, they have a very nice fragrance.

The trumpet-shaped flowers are white and borne in clusters. They form a carpet on the ground during the flowering season.

The bark of the tree has deep fissures and is used as cork, hence the name. This tree can be still seen in Bangalore a lot on either sides of the road.

53 comments:

George said...

What a nice mosaic! It would be a shame if all of these beautiful trees were lost to concrete.

Kirigalpoththa said...

That is a beautiful tree when in bloom.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

I do remember the Bangalore of the yesteryears, but now, sadly, a lot of that is history!

Today all of that is history! Sadly!

Arti said...

What beautiful pics... Never seen the tree in public though!!The trumpet shape is quite unique..
Thanks for such a lovely post!

joo said...

They are fabulous - I can imagine the smell in the air - must be lovely and flowers are amazing!

YOSEE said...

I love those hanging clusters ; the blossoms look like little bells. I feel joy everytime I see them.

Carver said...

Those are beautiful flowering trees. It's so important to have trees especially when concrete jungles are taking over.

Kavita Saharia said...

Beautiful blossoms !If i am right it is called 'neem-chameli' in Hindi.Thanks for sharing the pictures...loved it !

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Molto belli questi fiori pensili !
Buona giornata :-))

Carol said...

Interesting tree, very pretty blooms. Sad if they become history.

Snap said...

Wonderful! Hope the trees don't become history ... would be very sad to lose something so beautiful.

Bobbi Ann said...

Hi, very gorgeous trees and blooms! Thank you so much for sharing this! Hope you have a lovely new week!
hugs...
Bobbi

Urmi said...

Very beautiful tree with gorgeous blossoming flowers. Looks very pretty and unique.

eden said...

Pretty trumphet-shaped flowers. Great shots.

Marilyn said...

Great new tree for me! This world is full of unusual plants and I hope this one continues to be a part of your world. Thanks for stopping in! ♥♫

Sciarada said...

These flowers are wonderful cascade gently down!

Ezhilan said...

I saw these trees in my childhood. I like their fragrance. You have beautifully captured the trees.

Sciarada said...

These flowers are wonderful cascade gently down!

Unknown said...

Beautiful bloomings!

DeniseinVA said...

Fascinating post and thoroughly enjoyed your photographs on this Indian Cork Tree. I've never seen one before and thought the blooms were just super.
An English Girl Rambles

Kay Davies said...

This is fascinating. I have no idea how to make a mosaic on my blog ...so much to learn at my age ...so I really enjoy seeing beautiful work like yours. I've only recently seen more than just the western part of Canada, so I can now appreciate how much you enjoy traveling around India. Travel in one's own country is particularly satisfying and heartwarming.

☺lani☺ said...

Nice post! Happy mid-week!

Vinay Leo R. said...

ah, ur photos are always a pleasure to see, Rajesh :)

My ABC Wednesday Post

photowannabe said...

Interesting thought that your country is changing from the garden to concrete. Its sad that so many places are transforming that way.
Beautiful trees. I hope they will continue to bloom and give you some beauty.

Kay L. Davies said...

There is so much talk about animals becoming extinct, but I hear and see very little about trees and plants suffering the same fate. I hope this lovely tree survives.

Sylvia K said...

What a great and interesting tree! Love your collage, Rajesh! Beautiful! Have a great week!

Sylvia

Roger Owen Green said...

Fascinating tree, and mosaic.

On behalf of ABC Wednesday team, thank you! - ROG

Francisca said...

Rajesh, I'd love a pair of earrings in the shape of that lovely delicate flower. I enlarged the photos as far as they would go, and they are soooo pretty. Pity indeed to lose these trees to so-called development.

Carol said...

What a beautiful flowering tree. I love the hanging blossoms.

Hildred said...

Beautiful tree and spectacular flowers. AS great post....

Gigi Ann said...

The flowering tree is lovely. I wish I could smell the lovely fragrance.

Unknown said...

Beautiful applies to the tree, your photos and collage, and the tree's name: Jasmine in the Sky!
HelenMac
ABC team

Gayle said...

I'd hate to see those trees lose the battle to concrete. Such a pretty sight.

Tumblewords: said...

Spectacular!!

Verna Luga said...

HI Rajesh my first time to see this tree, interesting..
My ABC Wednesday here
And Here Too
hope you can drop by, Have A Nice Day!

Pietro Brosio said...

Fantastic tree! Very nice post!
:-)

Cheryl said...

The images are gorgeous. Would love to see one with a carpet of flowers.

Wendy said...

I so want to visit India, I've always had a fascination with her. I love the name, "Jasmine in the Sky"! thank you for such a lovely post :)

Carolyn Ford said...

What a gorgeous tree! Those trumpet like flowers must be something to see!

Anonymous said...

woowww.. awesome ones :)

Sumandebray said...

This is a great piece of information.... thnx

ChrisJ said...

As I understand it, cork is a very precious commodity these days. I love this post. I'm always interested in trees. Love the Jacaranda trees too, on one of your previous posts. We have one in our front garden. Every year I wait impatiently for it to bloom -- and what a reward!

Unknown said...

Lovely images. If they smell something like jasmine, it must be wonderful to breath in their fragrance!
Best wishes,
Anna
Anna's abcWed-F-words

Rajesh said...

Thanks to all the lovely comments. All is not lost in Bangalore. There is still greenery left in the Bangalore. The roads are decorated by these ornamental flower trees.

Xavi said...

A great and interesting tree! the Milingtonia hortensis, Rajesh!
Have a great day!!

Carletta said...

I imagine the air is quite fragrant and would add to a walk or drive along the streets.
Lovely!

Regina said...

Lovely flowering trees.

Have a great week ahead.

msdewberry said...

I like that I can see things here that I have never seen before and the Cork Tree is definetly that! These look like beautiful trees and the blooms are beautiful. It must have a devine scent!!

eden said...

Such a beautiful flowering tree. Great photos.

Rajesh said...

Thanks to all for such lovely comments. This is a beautiful flower tree that is on either side of some of the roads.

Teamgsquare said...

nice work ...

Nalini Hebbar said...

The fragrance is great too...I love the way they are seen on the ground around the tree...a white carpet!

Anonymous said...

I had this tree at my childhood house, at the corner of the huge garden. I can never ever forget any winter that I've spend with it's flowers. They're just heaven on Earth! It was such a beauty to see these white flowers every morning, fallen on the green grass and it's fragrance in the thick foggy morning air! True blessing for me!