1) Peepal tree – Ficus religiosa – Arasa maram
Peepal tree is also called Ashvatha tree. Dr.Babu explained that Ashva meant Horse in Sanskrit and in ancient times horses were probably tied to rest under this tree. Ganesha idol is commonly found below it and Hindu ascetics meditated beneath this tree. It is said that Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating underneath this tree. The tree gives out compartively more oxygen and that is probably why people assembled under these trees for worship as well as for village panchayat meetings. (The ever present Naattamai theerpu scenes in Tamil films!) We admired its heart shaped leaves and heard how the tree was considered sacred by Hindus as well as Buddhists. This tree belongs to the Fig family. When the coordinator mentioned the wonderful relationship between the fig tree and fig wasp, some of us remembered the account by Richard Dawkins about this symbiotic relationship in his book Climbing Mount Improbable.
2) Arjuna tree –Terminalia arjuna – Marudha maram
We learnt that it is also called ‘neer marudhu’ in Tamil and is found near river banks. The silkworm that produces Tassar silk resides in this tree. We observed its characteristic woody fibrous fruits which enables the dispersal of seed through hydrochory (dissemination of seeds by floating in water).
3) Cannonball tree – Couroupita guianensis -Nagalinga maram
The tree has been aptly named – the fruit looks like a cannonball and the flower looks like a hooded serpent. The nagalinga flower has a distinct appearance and emits a strong and sweet fragrance.
4) Honey Tree – Madhuca longifolia – Iluppai Maram
The sweetness of the iluppai flower has been immortalized in the Tamil proverb ‘ “aalai illaa oorukku iluppaip poo charkkarai” – where there is no sugar mill,the iluppai flower serves as sugar. Dr.Babu explained how the oil cake from the iluppai seed was used in Shrimp farming to kill the fish which preyed upon the prawns. While the fishes are killed by the extract of this plant by means of haemolysis since their blood contain haemoglobin, the shrimps are not affected since they transport oxygen in their blood through haemocyanin.
5) Yellow Myrobalan (Tantrika) – Terminalia chebula -Kadukkai
This tree yields a nut ‘kadukkai’ which is one of the three ingredients in ‘Triphala’ an Ayurvedic medicine.
6) Indian Mahogany – Swietenia mahagoni – Maravembu
The wood is sturdy and is used to make furniture, boats and musical instruments. The bark of the tree has medicinal properties.
7) Indian Jamun – Syzygium cumini – Naaval maram
The tree is native to India and is known as Jamun tree in English as well though the other names are Java Plum tree or Malabar Plum tree. The fruits of this tree are of a distinct purple colour and is nutritious. They are also used to make dyes. There is a legend about how Avvaiyar was engaged in a witty joust by the disguised lord Murugan underneath this tree.
8) Fish tail palm – Caryota mitis – Koonthal panai
It is an ornamental plant and the leaves resemble a fish tail. The dense foliage is said to resemble the flowing tresses of a woman and hence the Tamil name.
9) Indian gooseberry (Amla) tree – Phyllanthus emblica – Nelli maram
The Amla fruit which has a sour and astringent taste is highly nutritious with a good content of Vitamin C. The seeds, leaves, bark and the fruit is used in Ayurveda . It is also used in inks, hair dyes and shampoos because of its high tannin content. Legend has it that the Tamil poet Avvaiyar was offered this highly prized fruit by her friend King Athiyaman to give her a long life and the story is told to appreciate their exemplary friendship.
10) Sandalwood tree – Santalum album – Sandana Maram
The fragrant sandalwood is highly valued and the Essential oil derived from the wood finds uses in the cosmetic industry. It is used to manufacture perfumes. Sandalwood paste is used in Hindu rituals.
11) Kadamba tree – Neolamarckia cadamba – Kadambu maram
This tree has glossy green leaves and is grown commonly as an avenue tree. In mythology it was on the Kadamba tree Krishna hid the garments of gopis and played pranks on them.
12) Indian laurel – Calophyllum inophyllum – Punnai maram
It is an ornamental tree and grows along the coast. The oil from the seed is said to have medicinal properties and is used to cure skin diseases. This tree is the sthala vruksham of the Kapaleeshwarar temple at Mylapore, Chennai. Dr.Babu stated that Sthala vruksham did not mean sacred tree but only meant the predominant species of that area. People inhabiting that area probably had a livelihood based on the local bio resources which they conserved and considered as sacred so that it was neither overexploited nor depleted. Once the dependency on that bioresource for their livelihood diminished that particular species was not conserved and was depleted in that area. A lone tree of that era might have survived inside the temple. Now people treat that tree as sacred forgetting its important uses.
13) Jackfruit tree – Artocarpus heterophyllus – Palaa maram
The word chakka in Malayalam became jaca in Portuguese which is said to be the origin of the name jackfruit. The leaves are similar to that of the leaves of the Punnai maram and the resource person explained the difference in the veins of the leaves. While Jackfruit leaves had angular veins the punnai leaves had parallel veins. The fruit is very sweet and popular in Kerala and Tamilnadu and the wood is used to make musical instruments and furniture. Jackfruit along with Mango and Banana (Maa, palaa, vazhai) are considered the chief of fruits in Tamilnadu.
14) Indian almond tree- Terminalia catappa – Naattu Vadhumai
The tree has distinct circular branches and is commonly found in the city. The seed is edible and has a taste similar to the almond. When the leaves are about to fall they turn a brownish red and the tree looks beautiful then.
15) Silk Cotton tree – Bombax ceiba – Ilavam panju maram
This tree is found in Africa and Southeast Asia as well. The seed is surrounded by the soft fibre and is seen floating in the wind.
16) Indian palm tree – Phoenix sylvestris – Panai maram
This is a very common tree and is the State tree of Tamilnadu. The leaves are used for making bags, mats etc., The sap is tapped and fermented to produce toddy.
17) Tamarind tree – Tamarindus indica – Puliya maram
The tree is indigenous to Africa and was brought to India. The name derives from ArabicTamr-ind meaning Indian date. The fruit has a major culinary use and the wood is used to make furniture. Some trees are intertwined with some stories and it is impossible to look at a tree without remembering the story. I could not help remembering Sundara Ramasamy’s novel ‘Oru Puliya Marathin Kathai’ wherein a Tamarind tree is the central character around which the lives of the villagers are woven beautifully.
18) White teak – Gmelina arborea – Kumizh/Venthekku
This is a fast growing tree and the timber is used to make furniture, doors, musical instruments. The wood when burnt yields the whitest possible ash and it is said that this ash was used by our ancestors to draw the cave paintings in Tamilnadu. It finds uses in Ayurveda too.
