Vadodara: The naturally occurring orange-red flowers of Kesudo, palash or khakhro (the flame of forest) is typically associated with the festival of colours – Holi. In fact, the tree because of its trifoliate leaves has even popularized ‘Dhak ke teen paat’ – a Hindi proverb. But you will be surprised to know that there is a Dhak tree in Gujarat which is known because of its simple foliage.
Globally, there is documentation of only two such specimens of Kesudo that has single leaves instead of its characteristic trifoliate leaves.
Botanists from Vadodara have come across this tree at Jamnagar where it is locally revered as ‘Ek Parni Peer (Pir)’. This heritage tree is even worshipped by locals who perform rituals under it by offering coconut, flowers, flags and incense sticks. And the farm that houses it is mentioned as ‘Ek Parni Khetar’ in government records!
“This heritage tree is over 400-years-old. The tree does not produce any flowers, fruits or root-suckers, it just develops small bracts and bracteoles. Since it does not give flowers or fruits, its further propagation is not possible,” said Dr Karan Ranaassistant professor at city-based Navrachana University, who had documented the tree specimen as part of his PhD studies under Dr Padamnabhi S Nagarassociate professor and garden superintendent at M S University’s Department of Botany.
The heritage tree stands tall on an agricultural land at Meghpar village of Jamnagar’s Jamjodhpur taluka. The land has changed ownership but nobody has dared to cut this tree which locals worship as ‘Pir’ (spiritual guide or saint). “It is believed that earlier owners had tried to remove the tree with the help of a JCB machine, but the JCB machine itself could not move,” said Bharatbhai who owns the land since 2007.
Before him, a Muslim family owned the land for a couple of years. “Before them, a Brahmin family owned the land for almost 90 years. But this tree is standing tall for over 400 years. Since it is revered a lot, nobody cuts it,” he said.
“In fact, we wanted a small twig of this tree to deposit it in Botanical Survey of India but the locals politely denied it,” said Rana.
Interestingly, the shape and size of the leaves of this tree is similar to the usual leaflets of ordinary Butea tree.
“There are other Dhak trees in its close vicinity which have ordinary trifoliate leaves. But the ‘Ek Parni Khakhar’ is the only one of its type,” said Rana, adding that apart from Gujarat, a similar documentation of such specimen has been reported from Madhya Pradesh in the past.
Globally, there is documentation of only two such specimens of Kesudo that has single leaves instead of its characteristic trifoliate leaves.
Botanists from Vadodara have come across this tree at Jamnagar where it is locally revered as ‘Ek Parni Peer (Pir)’. This heritage tree is even worshipped by locals who perform rituals under it by offering coconut, flowers, flags and incense sticks. And the farm that houses it is mentioned as ‘Ek Parni Khetar’ in government records!
“This heritage tree is over 400-years-old. The tree does not produce any flowers, fruits or root-suckers, it just develops small bracts and bracteoles. Since it does not give flowers or fruits, its further propagation is not possible,” said Dr Karan Ranaassistant professor at city-based Navrachana University, who had documented the tree specimen as part of his PhD studies under Dr Padamnabhi S Nagarassociate professor and garden superintendent at M S University’s Department of Botany.
The heritage tree stands tall on an agricultural land at Meghpar village of Jamnagar’s Jamjodhpur taluka. The land has changed ownership but nobody has dared to cut this tree which locals worship as ‘Pir’ (spiritual guide or saint). “It is believed that earlier owners had tried to remove the tree with the help of a JCB machine, but the JCB machine itself could not move,” said Bharatbhai who owns the land since 2007.
Before him, a Muslim family owned the land for a couple of years. “Before them, a Brahmin family owned the land for almost 90 years. But this tree is standing tall for over 400 years. Since it is revered a lot, nobody cuts it,” he said.
“In fact, we wanted a small twig of this tree to deposit it in Botanical Survey of India but the locals politely denied it,” said Rana.
Interestingly, the shape and size of the leaves of this tree is similar to the usual leaflets of ordinary Butea tree.
“There are other Dhak trees in its close vicinity which have ordinary trifoliate leaves. But the ‘Ek Parni Khakhar’ is the only one of its type,” said Rana, adding that apart from Gujarat, a similar documentation of such specimen has been reported from Madhya Pradesh in the past.