Tree robbery

Heavy interminable rains in the last couple of days. I expected to see newspaper articles about fallen trees, but instead saw one about tree robbery! Two sandalwood trees at the Theosophical Society disappeared during the rains.
Apparently this is not the first time this has happened. The lashing rains make it hard for the security guards (10 for the 250+ acres) to do their job, leavign the trees vulnerable to sandalwood smugglers. It is theorized that the smugglers enter through the estuary and cut up the trees during the rains. They either take the trees with them or bury them in small bags in the beach, returning later to collect their goods.

Here is today's article from the Times of India.
And here is one from November of last year from the Indian Express.

Although the Indian Government has imposed many regulations on the harvesting and cutting of sandalwood trees, be they on public or private property, there is no ban on its export. Most of the smuggled sandalwood from India finds its way to the Middle East or to the US, where sandalwood oil is used as a base to make many perfumes. Sandalwood has traditionally been used extensively in Indian cultural practises, making sandalwood oils, pastes, incense sticks and the like prized possessions among the Indian diaspora. The internet and the newspapers tell me that the illegal sandalwood trade continues to grow, endangering this species in many parts of south and south east asia.

Aerial view of the Adyar estuary from wikipedia

How do we protect these trees?

Maybe each one of us can do our bit by not patronizing sandalwood products, be they in soaps, powders, oils, perfumes or incense sticks. I for one love my perfumes, but it saddens me deeply to see the indiscriminate cutting of trees to make them. Here are some perfumes that i realised use sandalwood as a base. To their credit, I do not know whether they use natural sandalwood or synthesized compounds.

Ardenbeauty by Elizabeth Arden
Emporia Armani Night for Her by Armani
Dior Addict by Dior
Sicily by Dolce and Gabbana
Hot Couture by Givenchy
Mahora by Guerlain
Glow by J.Lo
Absolu by Rochas
Manifesto by Isabella Rossellini
Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood
Mahora by Guerlain
Kenneth Cole Black by Kenneth Cole
Paris Hilton Siren by Paris Hilton
Chanel Coco by Chanel
Hanae Mori Butterfly by Hanae Mori
The Love, Ralph Lauren by Ralph Lauren

Diva by Ungaro
Obsession Night by Calvin Klein
Donna Karan Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan
Jennifer Lopez Still by Jennifer Lopez
Kylie Minogue Perfume - Darling by Kylie Minogue
Pure White Linen Pink Coral for Women by Este Lauder
Parisienne by Yves Saint Laurent

There are many more, I'm sure..


Do you know more about this issue? Do share your knowledge and thoughts through the comment form.

Memecylon umbellatum

These are the most beautiful flowers i have seen in a long time.. I am told that this is the memecylon umbellatum tree, common in TDEF (tropical dry evergreen forest) regions. Apparently in the Andaman islands. Do leave a comment if you have seen this tree someplace -- i would love to know! This one was at the Theosophical Society.




The entire tree appeared to be covered in a mauve/purple/blue haze, not unlike the blue/purple haze of the tree of life when it was in bloom. The ground below was seemingly covered with mauve/purple chalk powder - closer inspection showed that this was due to the fallen petals - such a treat for the eyes!

Burmese Cassia to wish LJ a speedy recovery

This tree was in full bloom when i came across it in the Theosophical Society in Chennai. The colorful bunches of flowers drew me closer and i was quite taken by their beauty. I am told that this is the Burmese Cassia (Cassia Renigera)
I wish i could send a few bunches of these pretty pinkish yellow flowers to wish a dear reader of mine - my aunt LJ, a speedy recovery after her surgery. She is many miles away, so i hope these pictures will work their charm instead.









The leaves are similar to other caesalpinieae :

Adams family tree

I simply had to take a picture of this tree. Right out of the "Adams family", it stood near the gates of the Theosophical Society, almost bereft of leaves but with a MILLION black pods hanging from its branches. I must make another visit soon and look at these pods closely....

Update: This tree is now in bloom and is the Indian Laburnum - Cassia Fistula.

Palm Sunday

Taken at the Theosophical Society. Could this be the Trachycarpus fortunei or the Windmill Palm??

Yellow orange beauty at the Theosophical Society

I came across a tree that had a beautiful yellowish orange hue all over it - closer inspection revealed yellowish orange round flattened fruits/seeds hanging all over. I wonder what tree this is?




7/27/09 update - more information into this tree's identity posted... it might just be the tree of life - guaiacum officinale.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima - Dwarf Poinciana

If the Delonix Regia a.ka. the Royal Poinciana is the Flamboyant, then the Dwarf Poinciana is the flamboyan-de-jardin or the flamboyant of the garden. And indeed this shrub has leaves and flowers that are very similar to the gulmohar (delonix regia), though much smaller. It is commonly found in gardens in two colors - orangish red and yellow.

Here is an interesting article from the Boston Globe about the use of the dwarf poinciana by the medicine men of the Amazon.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima, as its scientific name goes, and the Delonix Regia belong to the same subfamily and tribe - Caesalpinieae. The dwarf poinciana is commonly also called the Mexican bird of paradise or the Red bird of paradise. It is native to tropical America and is the national flower of Barbados. The plant is widely used through the Amazon for its many medicinal properties.

Theosophical society - Odds and Ends

While i was taking the picture of this huge set of anthills i became aware of some movement around my feet. I looked down to find these strange looking bugs of the most beautiful red color.

Turns out  these are the red cotton stainers.

Cactus at the Theosophical Society

Spiny, succulent with pretty red flowers. This one is probably of the Subfamily Opuntioideae.
Did you know that all cacti are succulent but not all succulent plants are cacti? I also found out just today that the spiky things on cacti are not "thorns", they are "spines". Whats the difference? Thorns are modified branches - they grow off branches. Seen the ones on a lemon tree? - thorns. Spines on the other hand are modified leaves and they grow off leaves. Thorns are made of the same material as the branch they grow off but spines are made of a different material than leaves. The spines on a cactus are made of calcium carbonate and pectin (unlike the leaf which is full of water and chlorophyll). And the purpose of the spine on a cactus is to protect the leaf from the scorching rays of the sun! Yes, really! It thus reduces the loss of moisture from the leaf. A revelation isnt it? I always thought they were to protect the plant from predators.

TS Stories contd - Cannon Ball Tree

A reader had asked for the cannonball tree - known as the naga lingam tree in Tamil -there are several around the city but i had been searching for one where i could see the entire tree, not jsut the portion that appears above someone's garden wall. And i was pleasantly surprised today to see several at the Theosophical Society.
The scientific name for the tree is Couroupita guianensis. It is native to South America and the Caribbean. In India, it is a sacred tree (the Hindu religion is indeed very tree friendly, just about every tree is marked sacred and hence cultivated extensively) and is grown around Shiva temples. The Cannon ball tree has antibiotic, antifungal, antiseptic and analgesic qualities and hence many medicinal uses.
The trunk is covered with thick snake like extrusions among which are found the cannon like fruits and ornamental flowers. The extrusions remind me of myself on a bad hair day! You simply must click on the picture of the flower and take a closer look at it. It is such a beauty! In local culture it is thought of to be like the mythical thousand headed snake (naga), protecting a lingam, hence the name naga lingam.
















As i was taking these pictures i could smell the flowers and oh it was heavenly. Several lay on the ground among the brown leaves. It was quite a sight - but for the heat i would have loved to spend more time there, taking in the smell and sights.

More from the theosophical society - Delonix Regia

Yes, of course i simply had to photograph my favorite chennai tree - the delonix regia. I found this one that seemed rather dimunitive compared to the ones on the streets. Sun washed isnt it? I managed to squint my eyes, look up and take a few pictures of the flowers. The Delonix Regia is also called the Peacock Tree and the Royal Poinciana.

A treasure in the midst of the city - Theosophical Society Banyan

Since moving to chennai I have made several attempts to go to the Theosophical Society, only to always be turned back at the gates by the security guard. It was either a sunday or it was that time of the day when one needed a pass. There was one time when i was told, in all earnesty by the substitute for the security guard that in order to walk in the society grounds i needed a pass, to get a pass i had to speak to the director, the director's office was in the middle of the ground, to drive past the entrance gate towards the office the security guard would have to record my car plates in his book and since he was on vacation till the end of the month i could not go in to walk now!
Ludicrous isnt it?! No wonder india ranks number 1 in red tape in the region.

Well today i made it in the nick of time - the society is open to the 'pass-less' public between 830-10 and 2-4 every day. It was five minutes to four, but the security guard let me in, with the 'please be back by five' (The joy of being in India - when we say we close at 4, we actually mean 5). And what a delight it was!! Trees, trees and more trees. The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 to study philosophy, science and religion. The 270 acres that constitute the society headquarters in Adyar, Chennai now serves as an area for city dwellers to escape from the traffic and pollution and enjoy a quiet walk among the many trees that are located here. Many people go to the society for their early morning walk.

The grounds of the society are famous for the Old Banyan - which, at about 450 years, is, i think, the second oldest banyan in the country. The banyan came with the property that was bought in 1908. Its sprawling branches were once held up by a 40-foot tall, 30-tonne trunk and thousands of pillar-like roots dropped from the canopy. Under its shade as many as 3000 people at a time have sat and listened to discourses by J. Krishnamurthi, Annie Besant, Maria Montessori and others. A gale uprooted the giant trunk in 1989, but it has miraculously survived on a weakened trunk and its drop roots. Today the banyan covers about 250 square feet from north to south and about the same from east to west, spreading over an area of about 59000 sqft.




Did you know that the banyan is the national tree of India? The name in sanskrit - Bahupada - means the one with many feet. Our ancestors thought of very apt names did they not?! :) The tree is sacred in Hindu religion - its ever expanding branches represent the eternity of life.
I read an interesting story online about how the banyan got its english name - the word 'bania' in gujarati - an indian language - means merchant. The gujaratis were the merchants of india and they originally conducted their business under the banyan tree. The early english and portuguese settlers in India hence refered to the tree by the same name - banya -- and with the passing of time, the name banyan came to be!
The scientific name of the Banyan is Ficus Bengha Lensis.

More pictures from the Theosophical Society. The tree grows on both sides of the road -