Green Saviours of the Earth

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Green Saviours of the Earth

(Tracing the origins of Heritage Trees)

Author:

V. Sundararaju

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Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

I. Green Saviours of the Earth

II. Heritage:

III. Heritage Trees of Tamil Nadu

1. African Baobab- Adansonia digitata-Anai Pulia maram

2. Haldu-Adina cordifolia-Manjal Kadambu

3. Stone Mango-Alangium salvifolium-Azhinjal

4. East Indian Walnut-Albizzia lebbek-Vagai

5. Scholar Tree-Alstonia scholaris-Ezhilai Palai

6. Upas Tree-Antiaris toxicaria-Mara Uri

7. Monkey Jack-Artocarpus gomezianus-Kurangu Pala

8. Jack-Artocarpus heterophyllus-Pala

9. Wild Jack-Artocarpus hirsuta-Aiyinipila

10. Neem-Azadirachta indica-Vembu

11. Indian Oak-Barringtonia acutangula-Samudra Palai

12. Bishop Wood-Bischofia javanica-Milachathayan

13. Red Silk-Cotton-Bombax ceiba-Mul-ilavam

14. Karonda-Carissa carandas-Kalakkai

15. Kedarnath’s Cassine-Cassine kedarnathii

16. Nilgiri Elm-Celtis tetrandra-Kona maram

17. Native Olive-Chionanthus ramiflorus-Kela maram

18. Satin Wood-Chloroxylon swietenia-Vammarai or Porasu

19. Talipot palm-Corypha umbraculifera-Kodai panai

20. Calabash tree-Crescentia cujete-Thiruvottukai

21. Rosewood-Dalbergia latifolia-Eetti

22. Small-leaved Ebony-Diospyros microphylla-Chinna thuvarai

23. Ceylon Tea-Elaeodendron glaucum-Kanniramaram

24. The Blue Gum-Eucalyptus globulus-Thailamaram

25. The Banyan-Ficus benghalensis-Al

26. Country Fig-Ficus glomerata- Atthi

27. Java Fig-Ficus lacor-Malai icchi

28. Peepal tree-Ficus religiosa- Arasu

29. South Indian Fig-Ficus tsjahela-Kal-aal

30. Fern tree-Filicium decipiens-Nirkongu

31. White Catamaran Tree-Givotia rottleriformis-Boothalai

32. Dhaman-Grewia tiliaefolia-Thadasu

33. Poplar Sterculia-Hildegardia populifolia-Malai Puvarasu

34. Indian Elm-Holoptelia integrifolia-Aya maram-Thavasi

35. The Iron Wood of Malabar-Hopea parviflora-Kongu

36. Black Kongu-Hopea utilis- Karun Kongu

37. Malabar Mahogany-Kingiodendran pinnatum-Kolavu

38. Ben Teak-Lagerstroemia lanceolata-Venthekku

39. Winged Naringi-Limonia alata-Thirukura maram

40. Mahua-Madhuca longifolia-Iluppai maram

41. Champak-Magnolia champaca-Shenbagam

42. Mango-Mangifera indica-Mamaram

43. Ceylon Iron Wood-Manilkara hexandra-Ulakkai palai

44. Malabar Neem-Melia dubia-Malai Vembu

45. The Iron Wood-Mesua ferrea-Nangu

46. Woolly-Fruit Miliusa-Miliusa eriocarpa-Sakkada maram-Karu Naarai

47. Bullet Wood-Mimusops elengi-Magizham

48. True Kadamb-Mitragyna parviflora-Neer Kadambu

49. Moringa concanensis-Kattu Murungai

50. Palai-Palaquium ellipticum-Pali

51. Indian Gooseberry-Phyllanthus emblica-Nelli

52. Manilla Tamarind-Pithecellobium dulce-Kodukka puli

53. Headache Tree-Premna serratifolia-Minnai maram

54. Indian Gum tree-Prosopis spicigera-Vanni maram

55. Indian Kino-Pterocarpus marsupium-Vengai

56. Toothbrush tree-Salvadora persica-Uga maram

57. Soapnut-Sapindus emarginatus-Boonthikottai

58. Schefflera racemosa-Kanneemaram

59. Ceylon Oak-Schleichera oleosa-Puvathi

60. Lac tree-Shorea talura- Kungiliya maram-Jalari

61. Spanish Plum-Spondias indica

62. Indian Almond-Sterculia foetida- Peenari maram

63. Spotted Sterculia-Sterculia guttata-Thondi

64. Fragrant Padri Tree-Stereospermum chelonoides-Padiri

65. Trumpet Flower-Stereospermum suaveolens - Sivappu Padiri

66. Sand Paper Tree-Streblus asper-Pura

67. Snake-wood tree-Strychnos nux-vomica- Yetti

68. Big-leaf Mahogany-Swietenia macrophylla

69. Small-leaved Mahogany-Swietenia mahagoni-Mahagony

70. Jamun-Syzygium cumini- Naval

71. Syzygium densiflorum-Malai Naval

72. Tamarind-Tamarindus indica-Puli

73. Arjuna-Terminalia arjuna- Nir Marudhu

74. The Belleric Myrabolan-Terminalia bellerica-Thani

75. Gall nut-Terminalia chebula-Kadukkai

76. Kindal Tree-Terminalia paniculata-Pilla Marudhu

77. Indian Laurel-Terminalia tomentosa-Karu Marudhu

78. False Hemp Tree-Tetrameles nudiflora-Cheeni

79. Red Cedar-Toona celiata-Santhana Vembu

80. White Dammar-Vateria indica-Vellai Kungiliyam

81. Vernonia shevaroyensis-Malai Suththi

82. Peacock Chaste Tree-Vitex altissima-Myladi

83. Ivory wood-Wrightia tinctoria-Veppalai

IV. Heritage Trees of Pondicherry

84. Axle Wood-Anogeissus latifolia-Vellai Nagai or Vekkali

85. Elephant-ear tree-Enterolobium cyclocarpum -Yaanai Kaadhu maram

86. African Mahogany-Khaya senegalensis-Sivanthenia

87. Philippine Mahogany-Pterocarpus indicus-Kodi Vengai

88. The Rain tree-Samanea saman-Mazhai maram

V. Organic Monuments that enhance the beauty of Udhagamandalam Botanical Garden

89. Australian Kauri (Pine)-Agathis robusta

90. Monkey puzzle tree-Araucaria bidwilli

91. Himalayan Cedar-Cedrus deodara-Devadaru

92. Monterey Cypress-Cupressus macrocarpa - Sambrani maram

93. Himalayan Cypress-Cupressus torulosa

VI. Heritage Trees of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PTR)

94. Teak-Tectona grandis-Thekku

VII. Significant Trees of Melbourne

95. Queensland Bottle Tree-Brachychiton rupestris

96. Cedar of Lebanon-Cedrus libani

97. Australian Banyan-Ficus macrophylla

98. White Oak-Quercus alba

99. Cypress Oak-Quercus robur

100. Montezuma Cypress-Taxodium mucronatum

VIII. Need of the hour

WORKS CONSULTED

500-year-old Adansonia digitata (African Baobab-Anai Puliya Maram) in Chinmaya Vidyalaya School at Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu

Foreword

The world of natural phenomena draws our attention as a source and inspiration. Although learning from nature is not a new concept, but it is a re-emerging approach within a wide range of interests. The study of Indian plants dates back from an early period as 2500 B.C. Various healing properties of plants are mentioned in the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures and hundreds of folklores on the religious, economic, and medicinal uses of Indian plants have had their origin from the writings and teachings of the ancient sages, herbalists, kavirajas, and pandits. Adam and Eve are said to have eaten the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and were exiled from Eden. Bodhi tree, also called Bo tree, according to Buddhist tradition, the specific sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) under which the Buddha sat when he attained Enlightenment (Bodhi) at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India. The Bodhi Tree (tree of awakening), also called the Bodhi Fig Tree or Bo Tree, is a large sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who became known as the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment or Bodhi circa 500 BCE under it. Trees are the sociological, ecological, economical and communal companion of human beings and animals. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. CO2 is one of the major contributing elements to the greenhouse effect. Trees trap CO2 from the atmosphere and make carbohydrates that are used for plant growth. They give us oxygen in return. Mature trees can absorb roughly 19 Kg of CO2 a year. The tree in turn releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings. Trees are like the lungs of the planet. Trees also help to reduce ozone levels in urban areas. Trees reduce runoff and erosion by storing water and breaking the force of rain as it falls. Trees also absorb sound and reduce noise pollution. In some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels. Additionally, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. Trees reduce runoff by breaking rainfall thus allowing the water to flow down the trunk and into the earth below the tree. This prevents storm water from getting discharge in to the ocean unutilized. When mulched, trees act like a sponge that absorbs and filters this water naturally and uses it to recharge groundwater supplies. On hillsides or stream slopes, trees slow runoff and hold soil in place.

Trees, among the plants are the magnificent gift of nature and has always produced a special thrilling experience for human being right from the day of his existence. Trees began to populate Earth 385 million years ago, toward the end of the Devonian period. Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) a non-clonal tree growing high in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California is perhaps the oldest tree on earth with an age of 5066 years. The tree’s true age was revealed by Carbon-14 (14C) dating its root system. The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is the world’s most massive tree, and arguably the largest living organism on planet Earth. This coniferous tree known as ‘redwood’ is seen in the groves on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This mighty fellow is 84 m (275 feet) tall, his girth at breast height is 24 m (79 feet) (near the ground it is 31 m or 102 feet).

A heritage tree is typically a large, individual tree with unique value, which is considered irreplaceable. The major criteria usually followed in selecting heritage trees are age, rarity, and size, as well as spiritual, aesthetic, botanical, ecological, and historical value. Estimates of age are made based on the tree’s size and presumed growth. These trees are found in reserved forest, community land or in private lands.

In this book on one hundred heritage trees by V. Sundararaju I.F.S (Rtd), very interesting and useful information have been lucidly provided under eight sections.

V. Sundararaju, a retired Indian Forest Service Officer had a distinguished service in various capacities in Tamil Nadu for over 36 years. He had a special capability to understand, appreciate and document the mysteries of nature from the beginning of his service. He had developed a remarkable flair for scientific writings in books and journals. I would like to record my deepest appreciation for the hard work put in by V. Sundararaju in compiling this praise worthy book. I am sure that this venture will arouse the interest of all people in trees and make them contribute towards conservation of our mother earth ultimately.

Best regards and expect more such works from V. Sundararaju in ensuing years.

Dr.C.K.Sreedharan.IFS.

Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force, Tamil Nadu.

Foreword

Trees all over the world are facing massive declines due to anthropogenic pressures. With the rapid development that is happening around the world, the first victims generally are natural landscapes and resources, particularly forests, the biodiversity within and the diverse tree resources. Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) need trees of diverse nature in large numbers to cover billions of hectares of degraded lands. Forest Genetic Resources (FGRs) are the genetic variation in trees of potential or present benefit to humans. Tree resources are recognized as the biological basis of world security, supporting the livelihood of mankind as they provide the food, wood and energy needs while also mitigating ill effects of climate change. Trees also play an important role in protecting the land, soil and water resources. While the tree resources are fast declining, there are large group of foresters and scientists involved in the studies and conservation of trees working across the globe. There are equally enterprising groups of tree geneticists, developing tree varieties and clones capable of adapting to climate and ensuring productivity.

I remember the days while serving in the forest department, the Tamil Nadu Forest Genetics division, Coimbatore used to handle seeds of more than 150 tree species. Today at the time when we are looking for diverse tree seed types, we are informed of the lack of forest tree reproductive material. Tree seed shortages due to shifts in reproductive patterns of trees owing to climate change is attributed as one reason. What we thus need today are protection of trees of many species and conservation of seeds of as many tree species as possible, holding abundant variations to create quality tree resources for the future. Information, understanding and appreciation of trees, native, heritage, exotics available across landscapes are important for restoration gains.

With awareness on tree protection gaining momentum in the country, for urban forestry, agroforestry, plantations, homesteads, school gardens, and for other land uses, information on trees need meticulous documentation. We need large section of people to work and study on trees, their varieties, distributions, genetic variations and associated features. The country with rich tree resources like India need more Guide to trees in the form of books, brochures and digital formats. There is a felt need for a greater number of publications on trees, their habit,