Common name: Joy Perfume Tree, Champa चम्पा (Hindi), Leihao (Manipuri), Sambagan (Tamil), Sampige (Kannada), Sachochampo (Gujarati), Tita-sopa (Assamese), Pivaluchampa (Marathi), Champa (Bengali), Champakah (Sanskrit), Pudchampo (Konkani)
Botanical name: Magnolia champaca Family: Magnoliaceae (magnolia family)
Synonyms: Michelia champaca
This variety of Champa produces golden yellow flowers.
Champa is native to Indonesia, India and other neighbouring areas. It occurs
naturally in the eastern Himalayan region. It is a large evergreen tree with a
long straight bole of 18-21 m with a close tapering crown composed of
ascending branches. The most interesting part of the tree are its flowers
which have an
extremely heady fragrance. This fragrance has made Champa flowers very popular
and they have been part of the culture in India from time immemorial. They are
used in religeous offering in various parts of India. On a warm
humid night, the scents can easily be enjoyed several hundred feet away.
Champa flowers are used to make the world's most expensive perfume 'Joy' in
America.
| Photographed in Imphal, Manipur |
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