Common name: Scarlet Cordia, Orange Geiger Tree, Sebesten plum, Geiger Tree • Hindi: लाल लसॊड़ा Lal Lasora, Bohari • Tamil: Aechinaruvihli • Telugu: Virigi • Kannada: Challekendala • Bengali: Kamla buhal, Raktarag
Botanical name: Cordia sebestena Family: Boraginaceae (Forget-me-not family)
Scarlet cordia is a small shapely tree which grows up to be 25 feet tall and
as wide. It is native to the northern coast of South America. This plant,
on account of its large tubular scarlet flowers, is one of the most
beautiful of the West Indian trees. This dense, rounded, evergreen native
tree grows slowly to a height of 25 feet with an equal spread and can
develop a trunk 12 inches thick. The large, seven-inch-long, stiff, dark
green leaves are rough and hairy, feeling much like sandpaper. Appearing
throughout the year, but especially in spring and summer, are dark orange,
two-inch-wide flowers which appear in clusters at branch tips. The splendid
flowers are followed by one to two-inch-long, pear-shaped fruits, which
have a pleasant fragrance but are not particularly tasty.
Identification credit: Navendu Pagé
| Photographed in Maharashtra. |
|
ntroduced
