Sarpgandhi tree

Sarpagandhi

     Curopita gianensis, also known as cannon tree, Nagalingam, and Sarpagandhi, is a deciduous tree in the flowering plant family Lecithidaceae that belongs to the genus Curopita. It is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America and is cultivated in tropical regions around the world for its beautiful, fragrant flowers and large, juicy fruits. The fruits are brownish grey. Curopita gianensis has medicinal properties in several parts, and the tree has cultural and religious significance in India. According to legend, the British brought the tree to Sri Lanka in 1881, but it was widely misidentified as Sal, and it is now commonly grown as a tree in Buddhist temples. The French botanist Jean-Baptiste Christopher Fussy Aublet named the tree Curopita gianensis in 1775.

The Latin specific epithet gianensis means "of the Guianas" (a region in north-eastern South America). Its botanical name is Curopita gianensis, and it is also known as Nagalinga or Top Gola in Hindi, Lingada Mara or Nagalingam in Kannada, Shivalingam in Marathi, Kaman Gola in Bengali, and Nagalingam in Tamil. Hindus revere the cannon tree in India. Curopita gianensis is a 35-meter-tall tree. Leaves clustered at the tips of branches are typically 8 to 31 cm long, but can reach up to 57 cm in length, and flowers are borne in racemes up to 80 cm long. Some trees have racemes that cover the entire branch and bloom profusely. This tree is also notable for its ability to produce up to 1000 flowers per day. The flowers are particularly fragrant at night and in the early morning.

These flowers can grow up to 6 cm in diameter. It has six petals and is usually brightly coloured, but the petals at the base can be seen in shades of pink, red, and yellow. Its fruits have a woody outer skin and are spherical in shape with a diameter of up to 25 cm, giving rise to the tree's vernacular nickname of cannon tree due to their resemblance to the cannon tree. Small fruits can have up to 65 seeds, while larger ones can have up to 550 seeds. Each season, one tree can produce up to 150 fruits. The fruit takes up to a year to ripen in most areas, but it can take up to 18 months in some. Although the fruit's flesh is white, when cracked open, it turns blue due to air reaction and oxidation. Although the flowers do not contain honey, they are very appealing to bees that come for pollen.

Seeds are spread by animals that consume the fruits. When the fruit falls to the ground, the hard woody shell cracks, releasing the pulp and seeds. Animals such as peccaries can break intact fruits. Many animals, including peccaries, domestic chickens, and pigs, consume the pulp and seeds. Trichomes cover the seeds. The Curopita gianensis fruit is edible, but it is rarely consumed by humans because, unlike its intensely fragrant flowers, its fruits have an unpleasant odor that humans cannot tolerate. However, in some places, it is fed to livestock such as pigs and domestic chickens. Similarly, parts of this plant are used in traditional medicine in some Amazonian communities. Although there is little information on its effectiveness, it is used to treat high blood pressure, tumors, pain, inflammation, colds, abdominal pain, skin diseases, wounds, malaria, and toothache. As a result, no one should use it to treat diseases. This tree is sacred to Hindus in India, and you can find it near most temples.

Let me reveal a little secret to you. Its flowers are regarded as a symbol of wealth and prosperity throughout Asia. It is mostly grown in Shiva temples because its veiled flowers resemble Nagas, and a Shivalinga-shaped part can be seen in the centre of the flower. In Asia, the tree is frequently planted in Buddhist and Hindu centres in the belief that it is a tree of sacred scriptures. It is also found in Buddhist monasteries and other religious sites throughout Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other Buddhist countries. Its pulp is used as fodder for domestic pigs and chickens in the region.