Naglingom or Canon ball tree, Couroupita guianensis
Naglingom or Canon ball tree ( Couroupita guianensis , family: Lecythidaceae) is a soft-wooded lagre deciduous tree, attaining a height of about 25 m. Trunk is stout and rough, brownish grey. The tree has a habit of shedding its leaves all on a sudden and it does the act several times a year. As an ornamental tree it is planted in parks, gardens, botanical gardens and by avenue. Its original home is South America. Leaves are alternate, oblong-ovate, 20-25 cm long, short-petioled, alternate. The new leaves are light green and eye-catching. The mature leaves are dark green. Flowers are yellow-pink or red with whitish stamens which are curved like the hood of a snake, strongly scented, about 5 cm long and 8 cm wide, on woody, pendulous racemes, 50-0 cm long, springing from old trunk. Petals 6, outside brown-orange and inside maroon. Flowers bloom mainly in summer but these can be seen throughout the year. Fruit is quite large and round, almost 15 cm wide, many seeded. I...