KGF's symbiotic relation with gulmohar

There is a symbiotic relationship between the colour red and the workers. For instance, the red flag.

On May 1, the Labour Day, even nature joins hands with the red flag by the way of the flaming red, Gulmohar flowers, particularly in BEML Nagar. The May flower is dominant at this time of the year.

Gulmohar (Delonix regia) or May flowers is known as kempu torai in Kannada. Discovered in the early 19th century in its native Madagascar by botanist Wensel Bojer, Gulmohar is a flamboyant tree in flower. It was brought to India, as also also Bangalore and KGF by the British. They planted it in the colonies where they lived. Even today many may flower trees are found in mining colonies. However they were systematically planted by the horticultural department of BEML.

 In BEML Nagar more than 150 gulmohar trees can be found. In BEML main road the fallen gulmohar flowers form a red carpet. In recent times however, as some of the trees obstruct the electric lines, Bescom has cut down the branches of many of these trees.
While the tree remains green throughout the year, for one month it bursts into a red flame with its flowers. “The tree can be fashioned into any shape”, saysa BEML horticultural officer Anjaneya Reddy. However, their lifespan is only 20 years.

For several weeks in spring and summer it is covered with exuberant clusters of flame-red flowers. Even up close the individual flowers are striking: they have four spoon shaped spreading scarlet or orange-red petals about 3 inches long, and one upright slightly larger petal.

The delicate, fern-like leaves are composed of small individual leaflets, which fold up at the onset of dusk. Gulmohar gets 30-40 ft tall, but its elegant wide-spreading umbrella-like canopy can be wider than its height. Gumohar is naturalized in many parts of India including KGF and Bangalore,  and is widely cultivated as a street tree.
Bridget White, in her book, “Kolar Gold Fields - Down memory lane” recalls her association with gulmohar trees:

“There were also huge Gulmohar or May Flower trees all over KGF. The Gulmohar trees were huge, almost 30 to 40 feet in height with large branches spread wide to form an awning.  These trees were prized for their ornamental value and for their shade. They usually flowered towards the end of April or beginning of May, soon after the first spells of rains in April. There was a popular saying in KGF that ‘April Showers bring May Flowers’.

“The riot of red flowers all over the place was a sight to behold. The bright red flowers had their own distinct smell.  The delicate leaves comprising of small individual leaflets supported the clusters of red flowers so as to protect them during the day and they folded up during the evenings.

The sepals and ovules after pollination formed long green pods which slowly matured. The ripe pods would split open into woody, boat-shaped forms. We’d collect these wooden pods and pretend they were boats and sail them in the water channels and drums in our garden.”