Pride of India.
Spotted These flowers at Ambazari Biodiversity Park.
My knowledge about various species of trees is very limited. Not to worry. I was in the company of experts, Jayati & Ajeet, who know much more about "Flora & Fauna" than I do.
In its broadest sense "Flora & Fauna" means all the living beings on planet Earth. Ignoramus that I am it means the trees and the birds.
I was told by the experts it is called Pride Of India.
Had a closer look at it.
Pride of India.
There seemed nothing special about it.
There are better looking much more beautiful and exotic looking flowers.
There was no smell.
There are numerous flowers whose smell is heavenly and give one immense pleasure.
It does not have any specific medicinal value.
If there is nothing special about this flower, why is it called "Pride of India"
My experts had left for Delhi.
Decided to find out. Did what everyone does nowadays. "googled" it.
Found out :
It is the state flower of Maharashtra.
It is NOT exclusive to India.
It is found in The Indian subcontinent (India and Sri Lanka); Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam as well as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Its botanical name is Lagerstroemia speciosa. Also what it is called in various Indian regional languages. In Marathi, it is called जारुल.
All this and much much more.
What I did not find was, why is it called "Pride of India" - an unanswered question.
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