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HERITAGE TREES OF PONDICHERRY

The Botanical Garden in Pondicherry sprawls over an extent of 22 acres. An early garden
seems to have existed in Pondicherry in 1740, although a formal garden was established in
1826. G.S.Perrottet (1790-1870), a French Botanist was appointed Head of this park in 1838.
Perrottet spent nearly three decades here experimenting and establishing several useful
and rare plants. Many of them were brought from different parts of India and a few were
from overseas. The garden was well developed by the committed and conscientious effort
of Perrottet. His avidity as a collector of economically useful plants and introducing them
here is laudable.

The bust of G.S.Perrottet, French Botanist who introduced maximum number of tree
species in the Pondicherry Botanical Garden

During his period, he introduced many exotic, rare, endangered and threatened plant
species. As a result, now there are more than 2500 trees of 296 species. Some of the
gigantic trees of foreign origin found here are Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Yaanaik Kaathu
Maram) from America, Khaya senegalensis (Sivanthenia ) from Africa, Pterocarpus indicus
(Kodi Vengai) from Singapore, Samanea saman (Thoonga Moonji Maram ) from S.America
and Adansonia degitata (Anai Puliya Maram ) from Africa. In addition to these, some of
the centuries old indigenous tree species such as Pterocarpus marsupium (Vengai) and
Anogeissus latifolia (Vellai Nagu or Vekkali ) are also found here. This garden also acts as a
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haven for red-listed plants like Hydnocarpus pentandra (Maravattai or Neeradi-muthu),

Michelia champaca (Shenbagam), Oroxylon indicum (Peru vaagai), Pterocarpus santalinus
(Sivappu chandanam) and Saraca asoca (Asoka maram). Definitely this park is a paradise
for tree lovers with its largest collection of tree species and it is worth visiting to expand
ones knowledge on floral diversity.

Enterolobium cyclocarpum belongs to the family Mimosaceae. The age of the tree is
assessed to be about 180 years as per the park authorities.

Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Yaanaik Kaathu Maram) with a girth of 5.71 metres and
about 31 metres height

This tree is native to America and commonly known as Guanacaste. This is the National
Tree of Costa Rica. This is called Elephant-Ear-Tree in America because of the shape of the
seedpods. This is a large tree without any buttress. The canopy is broad and wide spread.
The odour of the fragrant flowers permeates the air for many metres during intense
flowering periods from late February to early April. The fruits are shaped like orbicular disks,
containing 8-20 radially arranged brown colour seeds. The Guanacaste is one of the most
majestic and aesthetically pleasing trees. This is generally grown as shade tree to shelter
coffee plantations and forage for cattle. This also improves the soil fertility by nitrogen
fixation. The wood is used for making doors, windows, furniture, cabinets and shipbuilding.
The seeds are boiled and eaten in Mexico. The attractive seeds are used for making
jewellery in Costa Rica. As the germination percentage is 100 and tolerant to a wide range of
rainfall levels, temperatures and soil conditions, this can be effectively used for
afforestation projects.
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Khaya senegalensis belongs to the family Meliaceae. The age of the tree is said to be
about 189 years as per the park authorities as mention has been made about this tree since
the formation of this park in 1826.

Khaya senegalensis (Sivanthenia) with a girth of 5.74 metres and a height of about 32
metres

The common name of the tree is African Mahogany or Senegal Mahogany. This species
has been enlisted as Vulnerable as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). This is a large tree growing to a height of 30 metres. The white flowers are fragrant.
This tree is native to Central Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Uganda. The wood is used
for dugout canoes, construction, household implements and fuel wood. The bitter tasting
bark has many medicinal values. It is taken for treating malarial fever, stomach ache and
headache. It is applied externally for curing skin rashes and wounds.

Pterocarpus indicus (Kodi Vengai) is native to Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia,

Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. This belongs to the family Fabaceae. The age
of this tree is said to be about 150 years as per the park authorities. This is the National Tree
of Philippines. This is enlisted as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN).
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Pterocarpus indicus (Kodi Vengai) with a girth of 3.92 metres and a height of about 21
metres

This is a large deciduous tree growing to a height of 30-40 metres. The yellow flowers are
slightly fragrant. This is also known as Andaman Redwood. The purplish hardwood is termite
resistant and rose-scented. The wood is sliced to produce decorative veneer and for making
furniture. The flower is used as a honey source and the leaf infusions are used as shampoos.
The leaves are used for waxing and polishing brass and copper. This is also a source of kino
or resin. This has got the medicinal property of combating tumours.

Samanea saman (Mazhai Maram or Thoongamoonji Maram) is native to South America.

The trade name is The Rain Tree. This is a quick growing, deciduous tree with broad and
spreading crown. This belongs to the family Mimosoideae. The age of the tree found here
is said to be about 180 years and there is mention about this tree by Perrottet in his report.

Samanea saman (Mazhai Maram or Thoonga Moonji Maram) with a girth of 5.31 metres
and a height of about 26 metres
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The leaves fold in rainy weather and in the evening and so it bears the name Rain Tree and
Five oclock Tree in Malay. The name Thoonga Moonji Maram in Tamil refers to the leaves
closing in the evening. The flowers are reddish pink. According to a research conducted in
Indonesia, a mature tree with a crown diameter of 15 meters absorbed 28.5 tons of CO2
annually. The wood is used for making statues and idols of Gods and Goddesses by
carpenters especially in certain parts of Tamil Nadu.

Anogeissus latifolia (Vellai-Nagai or Vekkali) belongs to the family Combretaceae. The

trade name is Axle Wood. The age of the tree found here is said to be about 180 years by
the park authorities. This is a large deciduous tree with drooping branches. Found growing
in N.Circars, Deccan, Carnatic to S.Travancore in dry deciduous forests up to 1200 metres.
The wood is used for axe handles, construction, furniture, agricultural implements, house
posts and poles for carrying loads. This gives a good fuel and excellent charcoal. This yields a
gum used in calico printing. The leaves are used for tanning by making the skin into a bag
and placing the leaves with water inside. In Ayurvedic medicine, the bark is used for treating
polyuria, anaemia, piles and leprosy.

Anogeissus latifolia (Vellai-Nagai or Vekkali) with a girth of 4.16 metres and a height of
about 29 metres

Pterocarpus marsupium (Vengai) belongs to the family Lotoideae. The trade name is The
Kino Tree. This is a large deciduous tree found growing in deciduous forests up to 1400
metres. This is called Venga in Malayalam, Yegi or Yegisi in Telugu, Bengai or Honne in
Kannada and Bijasal in Hindi. This is the most important timber tree of south India, next to
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Teak and Rosewood. The timber is used for making spokes, building, furniture, railway
purposes, etc. The gum resin Kino is blood-red when fresh. It becomes dark-red later and
fragments. This is a valuable astringent. It is believed that infusion of wood, or even drinking
water from a cup made of the wood is helpful for diabetic complaints. In Siddha medical
system, the stem bark, leaf and gum are used for curing dysentery, leucorrhoea, cough,
vomiting, dental diseases, diseases of vatam and skin diseases. In Ayurveda, the heart-
wood, leaf and gum are used for treating leprosy, worm infestation, wounds, leucoderma
and polyuria.

Pterocarpus marsupium (Vengai) with a girth of 3.54 metres and a height of about 29
metres

The Heritage Trees are to be identified and enlisted in general for better protection. A
Heritage Conservation Committee has to be formed with a Naturalist as its member. A
health card also can be issued for each and every land mark tree and caution should be
exercised before allowing felling of any dangerous tree. Every heritage tree has to be
provided with a hoarding containing the scientific name, vernacular name, different uses,
medicinal uses, ecosystem service values and its status as per the IUCN so as to enable the
tree lovers, botanists and other naturalists to become familiar with the trees. When it was
suggested to R.Sivaperuman, Deputy Director of the garden to provide such hoardings, he
expressed the difficulty of protecting such valuable trees from the smugglers once such
publicity boards are provided. Of course his concern is well taken into account. Rajasekaran,
Tree Caretaker is taking great care and interest in protecting the existing trees and
introducing new tree species. The Garden authorities deserve all appreciation for the better
maintenance and upkeep of the tree species in good condition.

V.Sundararaju.IFS (R), President, (SOFCON), Tamil Nadu, India.