Cycas Rumphii- Gracing undauntedly for -164- years. Let us celebrate!

Cycas rumphii- (SyKas Rum Fee eye)

• Cycas rumphii has many names Ceylon Sago, False Sago, False Sago-Palm, Queen Sago, Spiny-Leaved Cycas. Conducive to Lahore(USA Hardiness Zone 9b- 11). Just watch the grace in Bagh e Jinnah. Few glimpses to excite you all to visit the grace. 

Can grow in full sun, partial or Light shade.
A view of the Grace from west. Photo by Rashad

Grace was planted during year 1850. Photo by Rashad.

A view of Grace from the north. Photo by Rashad.

A painted view of Grace from the north direction.
Jinnah Garden.  Photo by Rashad.

A view upward of the western half of the Grace.
Photo by Rashad.

Grace has one trunk spreading into two prongs western and eastern.
Jinnah Garden. Photo by Rashad.

A view of eastern prong multiplied into several branches.
Photo by Rashad.

An evergreen cycas. A view of  western prong of Grace.
Photo by Rashad.

A full view of Grace. Protected for posterity. A treat.
Thank you Jinnah Garden. Photo by Rashad.

A view of Grace from south, showing eastern prong.
Has leathery textured leaves.  Photo by Rashad.

Yet another tall Cycas Rumphii. It can attain a height from 4- 15 ft.
Jinnah Garden Lahore. Photo by Rashad.

Happy and proud reading, dear readers!

Fragrance of Alstonia (ul-STON-E-uh) scholaris,  is around here in Lahore. Are you familiar?

•         Can grow up to 40 feet height. Foliage is green and magnificent, adding grace to the road. I have been impressed by its foliage since 1975. When I joined the army and posted to Kharian Cantonment. I walked many a times under it, at midnight after availing weekends at Lahore. It is a shady tree. Wood is light weight.

•       It is also called Devil Tree. All parts are poisonous. Birds don’t make nests, not friendly. It can be trained. Make a shady canopy. Ruthlessly cut to trunk would sprout again.Young trees need to be protected during harsh winters- December and January. In Nowshera and Attock its top gets burnt to black.

 When planting ask for this flowering kind of Alstonia..   
Photo by Rashad 

•      Flowers ( pale green ) appear during  October in Lahore on Alstonia or Devil tree. To me, smell resembles as cardamom added to the milk. Smell surrounds if a flowering plant is in the compound of the house.  At Sialkot, it used to enter through the ventilators and linger on after the sunset.

Photo by Rashad.

•            Park at McDonald’s, Y Block, Phase 3, DHA, Lahore has some trees with flowers. All trees don’t bear flowers. Evening walkers are welcomed by the fragrance from a distance. Please, notice it now.

17 October 2013, Lahore, Pakistan. Photo by Rashad

  

Fragrance and nectar of the Devil T--- to charm the Butterfly.
17 Oct 13. Lahore Pakistan. Photo by Rashad

Is it really a Devil tree? 17 October 2013. DSOM.
Photo by Rashad

When illuminated. It is colorfully festive.
Photo by Rashad.  17 October 2013.

Moony   look…..Enjoy the Devil Tree. 
Walk out when moon is out.  But look up…. Man! 
Photo by Rashad 

Happy reading and viewing. Good Night.