CROWNING GLORY: And its not all silk
Silk, now in vogue because of The Dirty Picture, is not the only whiff of elegance this winter. The red silk-cotton tree, the yellow-silk cotton tree and other flowering trees will be in full bloom in the coming days. Some, curiously, can be seen in the middle of concrete jungles
Silk-cotton tree (Bombax malabaricum) | Also known as semul in Hindi, this big spiny deciduous tropical tree is cultivated for its leathery fruit that contain silk-like fibre. Its flowers are a brilliant red in colour. One such tree grows on a private society at Seven Bungalows, Andheri
Yellow silk cotton tree (Cochlospermum gossypium) | A common tree in Mumbai, it can grow up to 10 metres high, with exotic yellow flowers that bloom in winter. The leaves are 10-20cm wide and palmate-lobed. A magnificent yellow silk cotton tree grows at the Mumbai Port Trust Garden in Colaba
Cotton or Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) | It is mostly known for kapok or white fibres that wrap the seeds. They are used to fill mattresses, clothes, stuffed toy animals, etc. The Kapok tree is of the Malvaceae family, which grows in Africa, South America, the Caribbean and tropical Asia. One such huge Kapok tree can be seen next to the VSNL Tower in south Mumbai
Flame Of The Forest (Butea monosperma) | Its orange-red flowers are ablaze in February. The flame of the forest, called palash is native to India, and can be anywhere from 20-40 feet tall. Its trunk is usually crooked and twisted with irregular branches. It grows in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Indian cork tree or Tree jasmine (Millingtonia hortensis) | A tall tree with white flowers, its enchanting fragrance seeps through the fabric of the city. The Indian cork tree is cultivated in most parts of India. Tall and straight, with comparatively few branches, its popularity lies in its ornamental value. Some beautiful specimens can be seen at Powais Hiranandani Gardens and also at the Mumbai Port Trust Garden in Colaba