Let there be more Kigelia trees

In my opinion, and the fact is that, there are more Kigelia trees even within our sub-continent. There are references of this tree even in some of the older publications on trees in India. Also in a very recent publications on "Trees in India" there are references of this tree as a popular ornamental one along with excellent photographs. There is a big Kigelia tree in the Botanical Garden at Calcutta which was planted in 1832. At the crossing of Hooker and Scott Avenue in Chandigarh, north-west of India there is Kigelia and it can be seen at V3 Road between Sector 22 and 23.

For enthusiast tree lovers, I would like to add some more information about Kigelia tree, worthy for environment with medicinal properties.

The tree is indigenous to Mozambique and several other parts of tropical Africa. The English name is Common Sausage Tree and the Botanical name is Kigelia Africana. [Syn. Kigelia pinnata]. Common Indian name is Kajelia, Jhar Fanoos or Balam Khira. This is a remarkable tree owing to its beautiful velvety red-brown or wine red flowers, dense shade and peculiar-looking sausage type fruits. The flowers appear during hot season, usually anytime between March and June. Unfortunately, they are evil-smelling like that of bad meat and attract large number of flies. Flowers open during night and usually fall down before the following noon and are pollinated by bats.

This evergreen tree suits warm climate but also grows in humid tropics on good quality soil. Propagated mostly from seeds it grows very quickly under favourable conditions. It is a very good avenue tree with a rounded head and dense foliage and can be planted in large gardens and parks for its shade and peculiar-looking fruits. As its leaves are not eaten by cattle, it can be grown in places invaded by cattle. In several parts of Africa Kigelia is considered to be sacred. The fruit of this tree has medicinal properties although not edible. It is effective as a sore-dressing for syphilis patients and the bark is used to cure rheumatism and dysentery.

The tree is said to have been distributed in the sub-continent by the seeds obtained from a single fruit that was washed ashore to Bombay. Thomas David Baron Carmichael [not Baron Toamas Carmichael] the then Governor of undivided Bengal planted some saplings of Kigelia probably on 10th Day of December 1916, the same day the foundation stone of Carmichael College was laid by him. Two trees within the compound of the college still bear the memory of Lord Carmichael.

In this connection I would like to thank Prof. Mostafizur Rahman of Mymensingh Agricultural University for his rare endeavour in producing Kigelia saplings and request him to plant some saplings at Ramna Park, Curzon Hall compound of DU, Botanical Garden at Dhaka, so that amateur nature lovers can enjoy Kigelia's uncommon beauty in the capital city. And let there be more Kigelias in the environment of Bangladesh.

Mustaque Quadry is an architect.