Forest tree introduced to gardens

Onset of spring and early summer  unravels the beauty of several beautiful trees in Mysore . One such tree species is ‘Pride of India’ which attracts the passers by in a park  near the B M Hospital on Hunsur Road.

This tropical flowering tree is native to India and one of the most outstanding summer bloomers. It is a multipurpose tree used for ornamental, medicinal and commercial purposes. 

Undoubtedly, it is the  most attractive tree with its large erect sprays of flowers and brightly coloured conical shaped  terminal  floral heads  with characteristic crinkled petals and peeling bark    and known by several names like  ‘Queens flower,’  ‘Queens Crepe myrtle’ and ‘Banaba’ around the world and ‘Hole dasavala’ in Kannada and ‘Jarul’ in Hindi.

‘Jarul’ is the state flower of Maharashtra  and a commemorative stamp has also been released in the year 1993 by the Indian Postal Department.  The botanical name is Lagerstroemia speciosa (syn. : L. flosreginae)  and belongs  to the family Lythraecae.  The genus Lagerstroemia is named after Magnus Von Lagerstroem, a Swedish patron of science, The specific name  ‘speciosa’   means “beautful and ‘flos-reginae’ stands for ‘Queens Flower.’  

It is a tree from the forests introduced to gardens. It is the most striking tree of the Eastern India and Western Ghats but common in Southern India.   In wild, the tree is very common in moist localities and swampy lands and on river banks. It is large in moist areas but small in dry places.
Plant biodata : ‘Pride of India’ is a large tropical deciduous tree with globular crown reaching a height of up to 50 ft with a short bole and smooth branches.

The main trunk and the branches are covered with smooth, grayish cream coloured bark which peels off in irregular flakes especially during growth period (increase of  girth). The large  leaves are leathery, oblong  / obovate, lance shaped with a pointed tip. The lateral nerves are prominent and curve up words. The leaves  fall during winter and turn red before falling.  New shoots emerge  along with  floral heads.

The flowers are big (5-7 cm), held in long conical shaped inflorescence  called panicles at the tip of the branches. The clawed petals are crinckled and the flowers look as if made from delicate crape paper, which is the speciality.    The flower colour varies: mauve purple or pinkish but turn nearly white before they fall.  Main flowering period is March - April.  Occasional second flush  appears especially in young plants.

Two varieties are recognized.

Var.,  “magnifica”:   large sized tree  with larger leaves, larger spikes and larger flowers.  
Var.,  “rosea” :   shorter height, compact crown, rose coloured flowers on smaller spikes.
Other speicies  of Lagerstroemia  with ornamental  value  are, L. thorelli: A  pretty dwarf and bushy tree with white and  mauve flowers on large terminal panicles.
L. indica:  An attractive  shrub  with  ornamental white flowers and found throughout  India.

Medicinal  and economic value

Several parts of the plant contain amorphous bitter insulin like principle. A decoction of leaves and dried fruit is used for control of diabetes and  weight loss.  The extract  is known to lower blood sugar level in type II diabetes.  The active principle  seems to be ‘corosilic acid’ ( triterpenoid glycoside), although it is not  the only  active phytochemical.   

A commercial  product Glocotrim’ contains extract from this tree.  Leaves are also purgative and diuretic.  Bark is  used  for  abdominal pain. Roots are used for stomach problems.     Leaves and bark also contain tannins.

The reddish brown wood called  ‘Jarul’ is the  timber of commerce. It has innumerable uses  : building purpose, planking , ship building, piles, bridges, motor lorry body, and even  for furniture.

Text and photographs- Dr Mahadeswara Swamy. (The author may be contacted at: [e-mail])