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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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News Business Features
Editorial
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Colombo in bloom
Amidst the traffic, the garbage and the chaos, Colombo's trees make it stand out among Asian cities by Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala and photographs by Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne When I think of a garden city, I picture a carefully planned, manicured city with designed borders of well-matched flowers. I think of pristine avenues lined with carefully trimmed trees and parks. I don't picture chaotic traffic, buses belching carbon monoxide, cars blaring horns and trishaws weaving perilously through long queues of crawling cars. I don't picture pedestrians scuttling across roads despite 'don't walk signs', nor vehicles navigating a maze of streets stubbornly referred to by their old names and following overhead street signs that are so badly designed that you would end up in a canal if you followed them.
Yet in this hub of noise and dust and crowds and chaos that is Colombo, there are trees: verdant, majestic giants with branches spreading untidily across roads, trees that stay intractably green even during the driest months of the year. The trees of Colombo make it special among the cities of Asia, more special than neatly planned and flower-edged roads. Each time I return from overseas when I drive back from the airport, the first impression that assaults my eyes just as the noise assails my ears, is the quantity of green that I see. Everywhere I look there are trees. Most of the common trees of Colombo are imports from across the seas, some from the Americas, others from Africa, others from neighbouring India. When roads were built during the British colonial era, many ornamental species were introduced and planted for shade along roadsides. While some are used for timber and others for medicinal purposes, many flower spectacularly and serve to beautify the roadsides. Most flower from February to May each year, leaving roadsides carpeted with scarlet, pink, purple and yellow flowers.
These flowering trees are extremely important in urban settings for they not only provide desperately needed shade, but also serve to function as sponges to soak up carbon dioxide from the air and stop water run off from the rain. There is evidence that their leaves also adsorb dust. In addition, they provide shelter and food for urban wildlife, and beauty for our eyes to feast upon as we travel round the city. Take a moment to look around you and value the flowering trees of Colombo. 1. Flamboyant (Delonix regia) (Sinhala Mai mara, Tamil Mayaram) Unmistakable because of its spectacular scarlet flowers, which seem to swamp the also easily recognisable flat canopy of this tree. This was introduced in the 1800s from Madagascar. The bark and branches of this tree are light grey, smooth and characteristically sinewy, while the foliage is feathery. 2. Tabebuia (Tabebuia rosea) This species, which was introduced from Mexico, is easily recognised by its pale pink-mauve flowers that densely pack the branches and carpet the roads for a brief period. These trees are found lining Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, formerly called Flower Road because of the many trees of this species that used to line this road. This is a tall tree whose branches characteristically extend vertically upwards. 3. Yellow Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum) (Sinhala Kaha mara Tamil Nilalvakai) This species is unmistakable for its clusters of yellow flowers that cover the crowns of these trees during the flowering season. This is also commonly called the Rusty Shield Bearer because of its rust brown pods, which are said to resemble shields. Unlike most of the Flowering trees of Colombo, this is indigenous to Sri Lanka but has now been introduced to the Caribbean where the timber is used. These trees are found lining Thurstan Road and Bauddhaloka Mawatha. 4. Queen's Flower (Lagerstoemia speciosa) (Sinhala Murutha Tamil Kadali) This tree has upright clusters of mauve or dark pink flowers (depending on the variety) that extend upwards beyond the foliage. This too is indigenous to India and Sri Lanka, used for timber in India and for medicinal purposes in Ayurveda. 5. Rain Tree (Samanea saman) (Sinhala Para mara Tamil Enal vakai) Introduced from Central America, this tall, majestic tree is unmistakable for its dense, umbrella shaped canopy, that is almost broader than its height. The flowers, borne in clusters, are like pink powder puffs. The leaves droop and fold whenever there is a sharp change in humidity (i.e., at dusk or when it is about to rain). Hence it is believed commonly that rain could be predicted by looking at the leaves of this species. The main use of this species is the shade it provides underneath its extensive canopy. Look for this species down Baudhaloka Mawatha and on Thurstan Road. 6. Ehela (also known as Indian Laburnum) (Cassia fistula) (Sinhala Ehela Tamil Thirukkondrai) In the flowering season, this tree is unmistakable, as it often appears to be a shimmering yellow mass against the light - all flowers and no leaves. The flowers hang down in lemon yellow to cream-coloured clusters. This native species is not only beautiful but is also various parts of it are used extensively in Ayurveda. 7. Na (Ceylon Ironwood) (Mesua ferrea) Sinhala Na Tamil Nagacuram/Naka) This medium-sized tree is identifiable because of its new pink or dark pink leaves, which droop. The flowers are large, with large yellow centres and petals, which are crinkled at the edges. This is Sri Lanka's national tree that is found in the subcanopy in lowland rain forests. Look for it lining the road opposite the Town Hall. 8. Erabadu (Indian Coral Tree) (Erythrina variegata) (Sinhala Erabadu Tamil Mullumurukku) This tree bears characteristically triangle-shaped leaves in sets of three. These leaves can be bicoloured - cream and green - or plain green. During the flowering season, these leaves are sparse and a profusion of brilliantly scarlet, claw shaped flowers dominate the tree. 9. Yellow Silk Cotton (Cochlospermum reliogiosum) S Kinihirya Tamil Kongu) Recognisable for its bright yellow buttercup-like showy flowers, which are used in temple offerings, hence its specific name. During the flowering season, there are hardly any leaves. This species has been introduced from India. Look for this tree down Fife Road in Colombo 5. 10. Asoka (Saraca indica) (Sinhala: Asoka, Diya-ratmal, Tamil Ashogam) This is an evergreen tree whose large pointed leaves hang down; creating a dense foliage and whose yellow-orange-red clusters of flowers are unmistakable as they look very much like large bunches of Ixoras. This species, which is indigenous to the Indo-Malayan region, is used for medicinal purposes.
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