Tamilnadu- Anaikatti /Biosphere (2014)
Description to be added later

Sponsored by Coimbatore Zoological Park Society

Scenic Ananikatti

Silent Valley (Western Ghatas) is nearby- The valley is under consideration for world heritage site by UNESCO

The park is 20 miles from Coimbatore

Entrance

Dr Ratnam is relaxing under a 200 year old Banyan Tree

Park contains 430 plant species; 20 are classified as "near extinction"

Guided tour map

My guide- employee and a botany graduate

Know the format-Two slides for each tree

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Karunkali tree-why is it derogatory?

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7 leaf tree

Each bundle has 7 leaves

Red dye tree

Surface of the nut has a red colored powdery substance which flakes off

Hard as a Teak

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White teak

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Legendary tree- Lord Muruga turned into this tree in Valli Kalyanam

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Thorny Vengai

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Black Maruthu with shredded surface

Crocodile skin like bark

Kalaa Nut TreeKala in hand is better than Palaa (jack fruit) on tree

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The nut foams like soap

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Legendary Naval tree- Sutta pazham or sudaadha pazham ?Hot or cold fruit? Lord Muruga's riddle to Avvaiyar

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Ghost Ilavam

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Thorny Ilavam

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The nut is known for its bitterness

Etti Kai the Bitter nut

Tree of darkness- why?

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The leaf resembles the foot of a peacock

Compare it with peacock's foot

American Mahogany

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The flowers were used as a garland to the war heroes in ancient times

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The leaf is rough like sand paper

Yes; the surface feels rough

Proverb- where there is no sugar, flower of this tree is sugar (derogatory usage)

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Makizham Poo tree

Flowers are popular; Fruits have medicinal use;

Stupid Sambrani Tree!

The resin from the tree is sambrani- I didn't know before because...

The nut is amazingly like baby doll's eyes

Doll's eyes!

Thorny Seetha

Thorny

Fragrant Manoranjitham

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Tiruvodu- begging bowl can be made from the nut/fruit

One half is one begging bowl!

Quote from a 17th century English church man

Zodiac Garden has 27 trees corresponding to the stars in Hindu Astrology

14 stars and corresponding trees

Remaining 13 stars; touch the tree and feel good if you are superstitious or curious!

3 R's- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Amazing fact!

Human beings are tiny fraction!

Bird of paradise- Asian paradise flycatcher- Arasawall Eepidippan in Tamil

Also called Neela vaal Kuruvi

Nearby campus-Swami Dayananda Ashramam- World Headquarters in Anaikatti

Dr. Ratnam, the ornithologist loves trees

Reception Desk

Nice place for bird watching

Well stocked book store- Multilingual religious texts

Swamai Dayananda's residence

Swami Dayananda donated part of his ashram's land area to adjacent Salim Ali Ornithology Nature Center