Trees are beautiful living beings who play an integral role in our existence. They give us oxygen to breathe, shade, fruits, and surround us with their beauty. Knowing more about trees may help us to reconnect with them.
We bring you five trees that are commonly found at the beautiful green campus of V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE), situated at Raia, South Goa.
Mango
The mango tree (Mangifera indica), found all over the country and also in other parts of the world, is one of the most common and loved trees in Goa. It grows to a height of 35 to 40 meters. The mango tree can live for a hundred years and it has a lot of cultural significance in our country. One may find its leaves used along with marigold flowers to make a decorative string that is placed at the entrance of many houses during an auspicious occasion like Dussehra, Diwali, and wedding celebrations.
The tree is most popular because of its seasonal summer fruit – the mango. In the Goa of old, over 100 varieties of grafted mangoes were cultivated. However, it is difficult to find such a variety today with the number dropping to around 40 varieties. The most loved and common variety found in Goa is the Mancurad. Along with these grafted varieties are the wild varieties of mangoes known as ‘ghota’ or ‘ghonttam.’ They are mainly found at the start of the summer season and are commonly used to make local delicacies like, ‘Sasav’ and ‘Uddamethi’ and pickles.
Golden shower tree
The Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula) is one of the most pretty looking trees. It is known mainly for its yellow golden flowers which grow in large clusters. This flower is the state flower of Kerala and is part of the Vishu festival in the state. Thus, it has a lot of cultural importance. It is also the national tree and national flower of Thailand as its yellow flowers symbolize Thai royalty. The tree is also frequently cultivated in Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka.
These flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. The fruits are dark-brown cylindrical pods that have flat seeds. These pods are hard to break and thus it makes the pollination of these seeds a little difficult. However, in the year 1911, Robert Scott Troup, who was a British forestry expert, conducted an experiment and found that golden jackals feed on the fruits and help in seed dispersal. It is also said that the sweet blackish pulp of the seedpod is used as a mild laxative.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea comes in a variety of blooms, from shades of pink to white to peach to red, and belong to genera of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the Four O’clock family, Nyctaginaceae. Even though it is easily found in India, especially in Goa, all along the highways and spilling over compound walls of our homes, is not native to India. The
Bougainvillea originally belonged to South America. There’s an interesting story behind the discovery of this vine or tree. It is mentioned that it could have been possibly discovered by a European lady, Jeanne Baret, who was the assistant to the botanist, Philibert Commercon.
Once, Commercon was invited to be part of Louis Antoine de Bougainville’s expedition to circumnavigate around the globe in the 18thCentury. But, owing to the failing health he sought Baret’s assistance. At that time women were not allowed to sail. Thus Baret was disguised as a man and was part of the expedition and subsequently, she became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. It is assumed that she must have first observed the bougainvillea plant as she had a keen interest in botany. There’s even a book titled, ‘The Discovery of Jeanne Baret: A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe’ by Glynis Ridley. The vine was named after Louis Antoine de Bougainvillea who lead the expedition.
Fishtale palm
Fishtale (Caryota urens) palm is one of the most commonly found palms in Goa, especially in forested areas. It has derived its name based on its palms that resembles a fish tale. It is a solitary trunk tree that can grow up to 49 feet. One main feature of its palm is its inflorescence that is a cluster of beautiful white flowers and red colour berry-like fruits. This palm attracts many birds, bees, frogs, and mammals like a civet cat. These fruits are a favorite of birds like Malabar Grey Hornbills, which is endemic to the Western Ghats, and also Malabar pied hornbill. These birds are mainly found in forests and thus having such trees in one’s backyard or campus plays a huge role in the survival of such species. Also, having this one tree will support many species of fauna, thus playing an important role in biodiversity conservation.
Jamun
Jamun (Syzygium cumini), also known as Malabar plum, or black plum; is an evergreen tropical tree in the flowering plant family of Myrtaceae. This native tree can grow up to 98 feet and can live for more than 100 years. It is also one of the fastest-growing trees that have a thick canopy. Its fruits, which are oval-shaped berries, are popular among children who love to eat them as
then it turns one’s tongue purple.
According to Indian mythology, the Indian subcontinent was known as ‘Jambudweep’ or the island full of Jamun trees. The tree has white flowers in clusters that bloom at the start of the summer season. Thus, these berries are one of the common berries found in this season. It is believed that the leaves of this tree are antibacterial, and are used for strengthening the teeth and gums.
