The aSOka flowers are waving in the spring breeze!

jkmrao Sat, 03/21/2009 - 09:00
Lata
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but is this called Ixora too, or is Ixora a shrub, unlike Asoka? The color also reminds me of Gulmohar ( a tree I'll never see where I live).
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 09:10 Permalink
jkmrao

latAjI, you're right. Ixora is a shrub and its flowers also have four petals. But aSoka is a huge tree. In fact, even in India the tall mast tree which is generally planted in the campuses and has mango-like leaves, but curvy, is mistaken for the aSoka tree. The tall mast tree is so called because its wood is used as a tall mast in ships. The gul mohr is called the flame of the forest and my favourite too. We used to have a lot of those trees both in the Bangalore IISc where I studied and in Madurai University where I worked. Interestingly, gulmohr can shed all its leaves before putting forth new flowers. Again kAlidAsa somewhere mentions that in those days, the most beautiful women used to put the first sod when the aSoka was planted! Regards! - mOhana
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 09:36 Permalink
jkmrao

Srenithy, thanks! You've developed beautiful beauty-spotting eyes :-) Regards! - mOhana
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 06:57 Permalink