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Indian Tulip Tree
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Indian Tulip Tree
ative Photo: Thingnam Girija
Common name: Indian tulip tree, Aden apple, Portia tree • Assamese: পৰশ পিপল Paras Pipal • Bengali: পরশপিপুল Paraspipul • Gujarati: પારસ પીપળો Paras Piplo • Hindi: पारस पीपल Paras Pipal • Kachchhi: પારસપીપળો Paraspiplo • Kannada: ಆಶಾ Aashaa, ಅಡವಿ ಬೆಂಡೆ ಮರ Adavi Bende Mara, ಬುಗರಿ Bugari, ಹೂವರಸಿ ವರ Huvarasi Mara, ಜೋಗಿಯರಳೆ Jogiyarale, ಕಂದರೊಳ Kandarola • Konkani: भेंडी Bhendi, व्हडली खारीकापुसी Vhadli Kharikapusi • Malayalam: ചീലാന്തി Cheelaanthi, പിൽവരശ്ശ് Pilvarashu, പൂവരശ്ശ് Puvarassu, പൂപ്പരുത്തി Pupparuthi • Marathi: आष्ट Aashta, भेंडी वृक्ष Bhendi Vruksh, पारोसा पिंपळ Parosa Pimpal • Odia: ହବାଲି Habali, ହାବାଳି Hawali, ପାରୀଶ Parisa • Punjabi: ਪਾਰਸ ਪੀਪਲ Paras Pipal • Rajasthani: पारस पीपल Paras Pipal • Sanskrit: चारुदारु Charudaru, छायावृक्ष Chayavrksha, कपीतन Kapitana, क्षिप्रपाकिन् Kshiprapakin, सुपार्श्व Suparshva • Tamil: அரசன்விரோதி Aracan-Viroti, சீலாந்தி Cilanti, கல்லால் Kal-L-Al, மகாநிம்பம் Maka-Nimpam, மண்ணிலவேந்தன் Mannila-Ventan, பீரம் Piram, பித்தரோசனம் Pitta-Rocanam, பூளம் Pulam, பூப்பருத்தி Pu-P-Parutti, புரசு Puracu, புற்போதி Pur-Poti, பூவரசு Puvaracu • Telugu: గంగ రేగు Gangaregu, గంగరేణి Gangareni, మునిగంగరావి Munigangaravi • Tulu: ಜೋಗಿಮರ Jogimara • Urdu: پارس پيپل Paras Pipal Source: Names of Plants in India
Botanical name: Thespesia populnea      Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family)
Synonyms: Hibiscus populneus, Abelmoschus acuminatus, Hibiscus blumei
This is a good tree for small gardens or patios. Its name Thespesia means "divinely decreed" and was given by Daniel Solander who saw it in Tahiti as a member of Captain Cook's ship. Indian tulip tree is an evergreen bushy tree. It grows to 40 ft or more with a spread of 10–20 ft. It has heart-shaped leaves and cup-shaped yellow flowers that are produced intermittently throughout the year in warm climates. Each flower has a maroon eye that ages to purple. The flowers are followed by apple-shaped fruit.
Medicinal uses: Ground up bark is used to treat skin diseases (India), dysentery and haemorrhoids (Mauritius) Leaves are applied to inflamed and swollen joints (South India) When cut, the young fruit secretes a yellow sticky sap used to treat ringworm and other skin diseases (South India) Roots are used as a tonic. There is some modern investigation of the plant's effects on high blood pressure.
Identification credit: Tabish Photographed in New Delhi
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