Ambika Pandit I TNN

Spread over more than 30 hectares and once voted as Asia’s finest urban oasis, Lodhi Garden may soon add to its collection of 5,400 trees. At present, it’s home to a staggering 157 varieties of trees and is easily the most diverse green expanse in the Capital. No wonder it’s a favourite with the morning walkers, even of the VIP kind.
The first-ever comprehensive study of the greenery in the garden, which will be used to make a detailed inventory, has found that the maximum number of trees are concentrated around the water body or jheel area where there are 1,218 trees. The rose garden section has 901 trees. There are 432 around Sikander Shah’s tomb and around 216 near Mohammed Shah’s tomb.
The Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute was commissioned to do the study. Its interim report puts the number of trees at 5,400. According to NDMC sources, Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri emerges a close second with 110 varieties.
The trees at Lodhi Garden include species like neem, holoptelia, jamun, imli, sirris, basendu, barna, gulmohar, khejri, rounj, amaltas, agasta,
rohru, Anogeissus acuminata, Pterygota alata, six species of bamboo and a large variety of palms.
The garden boasts of varieties which are native to countries like USA, Malaysia, Thailand, South Persia, Australia, Africa, Brazil, Cuba, Madagascar, China, Japan and some South East Asian countries.
According to senior NDMC officials, though the civic body had details about the number of trees in the garden, no detailed inventory cataloguing every single tree was available. ‘‘This inventory is comprehensive,’’ said an official.
With the inventory in place, NDMC officials said they now know which areas to focus on and what new species to add. For instance, the garden is home to about 600 eucalyptus trees. Since this variety is known to wreak havoc on the water table — though it grows very fast — an attempt can be made over the next few years to replace a few of these with other species that are more suited to the soil, weather and topography. In the past, the garden was home to a number of keekar trees but since it is not considered to be eco-friendly for a terrain like Delhi, the species has been gradually replaced. Even now there are more than 50 keekar trees.
Officials said the inventory will also help the horticulture department to decide how many more ornamental or flowering plants are needed to be added to the landscape.
The NDMC proposes to convert the already diverse garden into a place that can function as a conservatory for more plant species. ‘‘Conservation of various species of plants and trees is very important in the Capital which is witnessing largescale construction. Even colony parks are under pressure. By planting more, we can prevent certain varieties from disappearing from the Capital,’’ a horticulture department official said.
Meanwhile, some of the recent varieties of trees planted at the garden include both flowering and medicinal value plants. The list of 19 odd species include Sita Ashok, kalpavriksha, mahogany, ritha, khirni, camphor, anjir and dalchini. An official pointed out that the Sita Ashok trees, a red flowering variety, were being planted in larger numbers. There is just one tree of the variety in Nehru Park and NDMC wants to conserved this species.
Green
Facts
Lodhi Garden boasts of 5400 trees belonging to 157 varieties
Most of the trees are concentrated around the jheel area where there are 1218 trees followed by the Rose Garden section where there are 901 trees
Common species found
Neem, Jamun, Imli, Sirris, Basendu, Barna, Gulmohar, Amaltas, Rohru, Rounj, Khejri, Agasta, Holoptelia, Anogeissus acuminata, Pterygota alata, Taxodium, Six species of bamboo, Large variety of palms
New species being added
Sita Ashok, Kalpavriksha, Mahogany, Ritha, Khirni, Camphor, Tababuia avellanedae, Tabebuia rosea, Paras pipal, Mahua, Tejpatta, Anjir, Dalchini, Tecoma stens, Sterculias, Cassia renigera, Cassia nodosa, Cassia javanica and Ficus alii

I grew up watching an Amaltas (Cassia fistula) grow in our side-garden in Lahore. Each spring would bring flowers on the creepers and shortly thereafter the Amaltas would start blooming with yellow flowers setting fire to the little garden adjacent to my room. Lahore’s roads would also glow in the summer adding much zest to a loveable, hot summer. Heat would make one yearn for the rains. So the cycle of seasons would continue with Amaltas at the centre of transitions and unforgettable for the colour and unfathomable beauty…

In Dhaka, Delhi and so many South Asian cities I have watched Amaltas trees in full bloom. The picture above (taken in Islamabad by a newspaper correspondent) today brought back all those muddled memories. Luckily, where I live now, Amalatas exists with a different local name.

Comforting, like an old acquaintance, it is still there in my life. It has not abandoned me.

More on the Amaltas tree, its properties…

Famous for its laxative properties, amaltas (botanical name — Cassia fistula, Sanskrit name — aragvadha or chaturangula) is a medium-sized tree, which is also the favourite roadside tree of the planners. In full bloom in the summer, amaltas is conspicuous by its bright yellow flowers and long cylindrical fruits.

The ancient Indian system of medicine attributes medicinal properties to almost all parts of amaltas tree, but it is the pulp of its fruit which is considered as an excellent laxative. The amaltas’ pulp has a peculiar flavour and is sweet in taste and cold in effect. It also has digestive, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and blood purifying properties. A strong purgative, the root of amaltas is used in various skin diseases, while its leaves form an important part of many ointments and poultices. The bark of the tree, which is known as sumari, has astringent properties.

Amaltas is considered the safest laxative to be used in cases of constipation and other allied diseases. Here are a few tips about the various uses of this tree —

In case of an adult person suffering from constipation, put 10 gm of amaltas pulp in a glass of water overnight. Take this water in the morning after filtering it. This helps to cleanse the bowels very gently and without griping.

Amaltas is an anti-inflammatory agent, both locally and systemically. In throat infection such as tonsilits and other mucosal inflammations of the mouth, its decoction is used in gargles. Similarly, the famous classic ayurvedic medicine rasna saptak qwath which contains amaltas as an important ingredient is very effective in rheumatoid arthritis and gout. It reduces tenderness and inflammation of the joint thus improving mobility.

In alopecia areata, which is characterised by non-inflamed patches of baldness on the scalp, eyebrows and bearded portion of the face, a paste of ash of amaltas’ leaves mixed with goat’s milk is very effective.

As a laxative for an adult person, 10 to 20 gm pulp of amaltas fruit is sufficient. For the sake of purity, it is better to buy the dried fruit of amaltas and extract small cakes of pulp by breaking the hard shell, than using the pre-extracted pulp.

Source for the text

अमलतास के पुष्पित झूमर

ग्रीष्म ऋतु की खनकी पायल
गरम हवायें तनमन  घायल
तपती धरा,झुलसाती हर प्रहर
शाम सुहानी  या मीठी सहर
ज्वाला सी धग धगती दोपहर
सृष्टि पर जैसे टूटा कहर
राह पर मिल जाते हो तुम
लगते हो  सब से मनोहर
पीले सोनम से रंग सजे
अमलतास के पुष्पित झूमर
हरे पन्नो को त्याग  कर 
ओढते हो ये लिबास
थकि आँखों को थोडासा हो
खुशनुमा सा हल्का एहसास
काया को नही मोहक सुगंध
जोड़े हो दिल से स्नेह बंध
खुद जले और बने दूसरे की छाया
वही बनता है तुमसा कुंदन
पास आकर तुम्हारे पग जाते ठहर
तुमसे सीखा है जीवन में
बनाना सयमि शीतल चंदन.

Family Name: Caesulpinaceae

Botanical Name(s): Cassia Fistula

Popular Name(s): Fistula, Laburnum, Purging Fistula, Golden Shower, Amaltas

Parts Used: Fruits And Bark

Habitat: Grows in valleys up to 1200 m in Himalayas.

Description: A tropical ornamental tree with a trunk consisting of hard reddish wood, growing up to 40 feet tall. The wood is hard and heavy. It has showy racemes, up to 2" long, with bright, yellow, fragrant flowers. These flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies.

Uses: Pulp from fruits called "Cessia Pulp" is a well-known Laxative. Bark of tree is rich in tannins.