Regal splendour of the golden shower tree – Amaltas

Those of us who walk down memory lane and, possibly, hooked to Indian cinema I would like to take them to the famous scene of the Bollywood classic film Mughal-e-Azam (The Great Mughal) in which, befitting the royalty of Prince Salim and the beauty of his beloved Anarkali, the two iconic lovers share some very intimate moments on the soft bed of yellow flowers of Amaltas.

But then there is no need now to resort to the reel world of celluloid for such illusory visual treats as the nature brings a panoramic canvas of the real world painted all around us with fiery yellow sprays of Amaltas.

Come the summer months of May and June, much of the landscape in India transforms to a dazzling yellow and so it does in the neighbouring lands of Pakistan to its west, Bangladesh and Myanmar to its east, Sri Lanka in the south, and other tropical countries of Southeast Asia. Roadsides, streets, and parks all glow in the fiery ambiance of Amaltas, the majestic flowering tree.

Also known by the name Laburnum in India, its Latin name is Cassia Fistula and is known widely as the Golden Shower tree in the West. Called Lantern Tree in Thailand, the tree is the national tree of Thailand and its flower, the national flower. Amaltas is also the state flower of the Indian state Kerala and carries ritual importance in the Vishu festival, which marks the beginning of the New Year.

MEDIUM-SIZED TREE

Amaltas is a medium-sized tree that grows to about 30-40 feet tall. With its enchanting intense bloom, it naturally finds its place among the most beautiful of the tropical ornamental trees. When the flowering season arrives, it sheds almost all its leaves and springs into grape-like bunches of bright yellow flowers. Bright yellow drooping sprays of the flowers paint a contrast as they entwine the dark brown dangling drumsticks-like Amaltas fruits surviving from the previous season. Green when young, fruits turn dark brown when they mature. The fruits are about a foot and half long, flat, and about an inch and a quarter broad, capsuling up to 100 seeds. The seeds are enmeshed in a sticky brown pulp in compartments in the pods, which is believed to be good for health while the seeds are poisonous.

But then, other than the seeds, each part of the Amaltas tree has been found so beneficial that in the Ayurveda system of medicine, it is known by the name of Aragvadha or the killer of disease. All parts of the tree - be they the bark, root, flowers, leaves, fruit pulp - are used medicinally and have several health benefits. Its fruit pulp is used as a mild laxative and for stomach problems such as colic pain, flatulence, or acid reflux. It is also believed to be effective against fevers, arthritis, hematemesis or haemorrhages, as well as for cardiac conditions and nervous system problems. While the root is considered a very strong purgative and is used in skin diseases, its leaves are used in ointments and poultices. The bark, too, is used for medication for its astringent properties. Its wood, being hard, durable, and heavy, is used for inlay work, furniture, and construction of buildings and bridges.

VISUAL DELIGHT

Despite all its uses, the best part still remains the visual delight that its dazzling bright blossom offers to sooth your eyes. One does not have to go to the Laburnum Road in Mumbai, the whole stretch of which is lined only with Amaltas trees for which it is named, also not to the Hailey Road in Connaught Place, which is famous for being fully flanked by the fiery flowers, or to its aligned abundance at the Shanti Path in the diplomatic enclave in the capital but just to step out and see many pockets of the neighbourhood coloured so brightly with its yellow tones. There are many around my house and clusters of it all the way to office. A lane facing my house is all lined up with Amaltas trees in full bloom that the pleasure of a morning walk amid them with the golden-hued welcome carpet of fallen flowers laid for you is so refreshing and enthralling for the day. When I was posted in Jamaica, I surely saw some of these trees there. Perhaps their saplings were brought by the indentured workers centuries ago. I am sure it would be a rewarding experience for you to spot them and have a feast for your eyes, too.

Bimal Saigal is a former Indian diplomat. He served as the second secretary at High Commission of India in Jamaica from 2004 to 2007.