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Scent of jasmine

It's not just the flowers, but also the scent of Kattu Malli that is irresistible

Millingtonia hortensis is cultivated in most parts of India in gardens, parks and avenues. Belonging to the biological family Bignoniaceae, it is known as Akasnim in Hindi, Katu Malli in Tamil and Maramalli in Malayalam. Millingtonia is a tall tree with a few branches and dark grey cork bark. Its appeal lies in its ornamental value rather than its shade giving properties. It is a fine, fast growing tree, producing fragrant white flowers in hanging masses.

Silvery-white flowers

The calyx is bell-shaped, 2.5 cm across with a slender 5 cm long pale green tube that divides into four waxy white petals and yellow-anthered stamens. One petal is longer and clefted. The tree flowers from October to December. A profusion of silvery-white fragrant flowers crowns the foliage.

As they fall very soon after opening, the sprays will have long whitish buds while the ground below is spangled with flowers. The tree sheds its leaves in January. The long leaves, oval, pointed and toothed are each 5 cm long and 2-3 pinnate.

The tree is named after an English botanist Thomas Millington. Hortensis in Latin means `grown in garden'. The fruit is long and flat, but it does not seed very easily. Bark is used as substitute for cork. Widely cultivated in India and Pakistan.

CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN

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