My uncle’s farm in Kurtkoti was horticulture’s delight. Two Frangipani trees one bearing white and the other pink flowers added a lot of character to the farm. The branches of these trees were very easy to climb and we cousins would spend hours under the tree on summer afternoons to beat the heat. Few of these flowers would adorn the idols of the pooja room and during Diwali swings would be tied to these trees and we would swing wildly to our hearts content.
Plant Summary:
The botanical name of Frangipani is Plumeria belonging to Apocynaceae (oleander family). The name plumeria honors the French botanist Charles Plumier. Common names are “melia” in Hawaii, araliya in Sri Lanka, Temple Tree in English, Devva Kanagale in Kannada, Gulachin in Hindi.
The tree is deciduous and is a native of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Venezuela, but is widely grown all over the world for beatifying parks, roads and cemeteries. The trunk of the tree is grey, thick and smooth. The leaves are pointed, 20 inches long, leathery, and are clustered at the end of the branches. Some of the hybrid varieties of this tree are evergreen and leaves are rounded rather than pointed.
Because of the beauty and the fragrance of Frangipani flowers, they are synonymous with leis / garlands made in several Pacific islands like Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii, and so on. It is the national flower of Nicaragua and Lao. The tree grows to a height of 25 feet spreading wide.
The flowers are 5 to 7 cm in diameter and are in shades of pink, white, yellow, deep red with a yellow center. The flowers appear at the tip of the branches in a bunch.
The fruit is a long capsule, green when young and turns to almost black when mature.
Warning: The tree possesses poisonous, milky sap, which when comes in contact with eyes and skin might cause irritation.
Propagation:
Plumeria species may be easily propagated from cuttings of leafless stem tips in spring. Cuttings are allowed to dry at the base before planting in well drained soil.
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Good Morning,
Good article. It seems you have studied ‘Botany’ as main subject.
I saw in your article’s many photographs of beautiful roads or houses surrounded by lot of greenery and neatly maintained gardens (e.g. 4th photo from top in this article). If possible write article on houses and gardens around it, with photos.
Regards
Vishram Kunte
Hi Vishram,
Greetings,
You will be surprised to know that I have not studied botany at all. Gardening is just a hobby and have been growing plants since I was in school. I have done MCA.
I have written about heritage building, which interests me and also will be continuing to write about gardening.
Regards,
Shantha
Hi
Ok Suprise. Since you write all the time Botanical names of plant, thought you are from Botany.
Even I like and wish to develop gardening as hobby. Especially colors, flowers sooth your mind. But in Mumbai it is difficult to develope this.
Anyway, keep it up. Atleast I can find pleasure visiting this site.
Warm Regards
Vishram
Yes, gardening is a wonderful hobby and Bangalore-Mysore has the best weather to grow all types of plants.
I will keep writing and posting pictures of flowers and plants so that you can garden virtually 😀
Thanks and Regards,
Shantha
Though Gulachin – Persian / Urdu for chinese flower – is OK ,the more apt hindi word is KANAK CHAMPA.
You may,after checking it out, like 2 add this 2 your article above.
thanks & keep it up !
Hi Roshi,
Thanks for the information.
Regards,
Shantha