JOIN USYamalur villagers deify unique coconut tree
A one of a kind, non-fruiting, non-frond shedding coconut tree at Yamalur village near Bellandur has become a crowd-puller. In fact, some even worship the tree for its unique characteristics.
“This particular plant species never sheds its fronds, even the dry ones hang on to it. It sprouts instead of fruiting much to the people's surprise,” said a resident. The tree has become a god to the people here, who say it brings them good luck, if worshipped. “Though many fronds were found dried up, they have not fallen down. It is indeed a surprise. We have never seen such a tree,” said Sri Abhishek Gowda, a resident of this village.
“Considering its rarity, the villagers have deified it. Nobody touches the tree, nor removes its dry fronds. Our villagers have been protecting it,” said Sushil Gowda, another resident of Yamalur.
The ‘S’ shaped tree is considered to be over fifty years old and it stands on a private land owned by K Babu Reddy. To protect the tree, a temple to Lord Muneshwara is constructed in front of it.
Expressing his surprise over the sprouting tree, Hemachandra, Deputy Director, Coconut Development Board, said this was an unbelievable phenomenon and no one knows why this particular tree was like this. “At least I have never heard or seen a tree which does not shed fronds or the one which sprouts instead of flowering or fruiting. This is the first of its kind,” he said.