MAST TREE
Family - Annonaceae
Scientific name - Polyalthia longifolia
COMMON NAMES -
1) Also called Cemetry tree.
2) In Hindi called Ashoka or Debdaru,
3) Asopala in Gujarati,
4) Nara in Telugu, and
5) Debdaru in Bengali.
GROWING AREAS:
1) This tree belongs to the drier parts of Sri
Lanka and the south of India, but is now planted in many parts of India along
roads, by rivers, around buildings and temples.
2) It grows well in poor soil.
3) It’s trunk is strong enough to stand
against the monsoon winds; but it does not grow well very close to the sea.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
1) It is a tall, slim evergreen tree, that
grows rather slowly.
2) Its bark is smooth and dark greyishbrown.
3) Although the tree we know best is tall and
slim, another form of this tree spreads outwards with weeping branches that hang
down.
4) The leaves, flowers and fruit of both the
forms are, however, similar.
5) The tree should not be confused with the
other Ashoka tree, which is a short, spreading tree with dark green.
LEAVES OF THE MAST TREE:
1) The leaves ‘are dark green and shiny on
both sides.
2) This tree probably once grew in very wet
areas as the leaves hang down and rain drops pour off the shiny surfaces
keeping the tree dry.
FLOWERS OF THE MAST TREE:
1) The six-petalled flowers appear in the
months of February, March and April, which are the main flowering months.
2) They grow in bunches and produce a great
many fruit.
3) As with many trees, one may be in full
flower while the next one
is still only budding.
FRUITS OF THE MAST TREE:
1) They are small and generally ripen in
September and October. Each fruit contains one seed.
2) The ripe fruits are purple, but they are
difficult to see as they remain hidden in the leaves.
3) Flying foxes and other bats, monkeys and birds love the fruit. They leave the ground covered with seeds that they throw down during their feasting.
USES OF THE MAST TREE:
1) This tree is planted for its beauty, and is held sacred by Hindus who make wreaths and garlands of the leaves to hang over doorways at festival times.
2) In olden days, the straight trunks were used to make masts for sailing ships, but now the wood is used only for making matches and pencil boxes.
