Forwarding pl. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dr. Prithipalsingh <[email protected]> Date: 8 July 2012 12:14 Subject: Champa flower
This refers to the interesting column "She Baba" in Hindustan Times, Sunday July 08, 2012, where Renuka Narayanan describes the "champa flower". She has rightly indicated the botanical name as Michelia champaka for the flower described. BUT, the accompanying illustration does not depict Michelia champaka. Instead, the illustration shows "Plumeria alba". In ths context, I would like to mention here that, the real champa (Michelia champaka) is common in South India and is a popular tree growing inside many temples compounds, as well as the flowersw being sold outside the temples. On the other hand, "Plumeria alba" (also called "The Pagoda Tree" (orgin ally from Japan/China), is commonly grown in North India as an ornamental in gardens and along roadsides. It is erronously called "Champa" although it is not in any way related to the real "Champa = Michelia champaka". The two plants belong to very different 'families' in botanical classification. The real champa (Michelia champaka) is classified in the Family Magnoliaceae, while the other plant is classified in the Family Apocynaceae". Dr. Prithipalsingh Retired, Associate Professor Department of Botany Kirorimal College __,_._,___ -- With regards, J.M.Garg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a *thousand species* & eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise): http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg. You can also use them for free as per Creative Commons license attached with each image. For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, please visit/ join our Efloraofindia Google e-group: http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix (more than 1900 members & 1,20,700 messages on 30/6/12) or Efloraofindia website: https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/ (with a species database of more than 7000 species). Also author of 'A Photoguide to the Birds of Kolkata & Common Birds of India'.
