A Documentation of Seasonal Variation in Lagerstroemia speciosa (Pride of India) by Pragya Shukla

A DOCUMENTATION OF

SEASONAL VARIATION IN

LAGERSTROEMIA SPECIOSA (PRIDE OF INDIA)

UNDERTAKEN BY

PRAGYA SHUKLA SPA/NS/LA/657 MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (2019-2021) SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, NEW DELHI

Source: https://ellya-brill-bt4x.squarespace.com/leaves-and-others

PRIDE OF INDIA | LAGERSTROEMIA SPECIOSA

Source: http://tropical.theferns.info/image.php?id=Lagerstroemia+speciosa

FLOWERS

FRUITS

Jarul (Hindi & Bengali), Tamhan/ Motha Bondara (Marathi), Ejār (Assamese)

Source: http://tropical.theferns.info/image.php?id=Lagerstroemia+speciosa

Lagerstroemia speciosa is a large deciduous tree that attains a height of maximum 20 m and diameter of 60 cm. The genus Lagerstroemia belongs to family Lythraceae and is known as Crape Myrtles, consisting of around 56 living species that occurs naturally from India, Southeast Asia, Southern China, Japan and Korea to northern Australia and New Guinea. Lagerstroemia prefers a subtropical or warmtemperate climate and cannot survive cold winters. It is also known as Queen’s Crape-Myrtle due to the large handsome mauve flowers.

INFLORESCENCE

LEAVES

Source: http://ridzwanmn.blogspot.com/2013/07/lagerstroemia-speciosa-giant-crape.html

Source: http://tropical.theferns.info/image.php?id=Lagerstroemia+speciosa

Source: http://ridzwanmn.blogspot.com/2013/07/lagerstroemia-speciosa-giant-crape.html

MATURITY (TILL DECLINE)

FEATURES

Source: https://ramanarunachalam.github.io/Flora-and-Fauna/Flora/Lagerstroemia%20-%20Pink%20Pride%20Of%20India%20Tree/Pink%20Pride%20Of%20India%20Tree.html

LEAVES

FLOWERS

FRUITS

CONCEPTION (SPROUTING)

BARK: Pale brown, smooth or flaking thinly.

LEAVES: Large, smooth, on short, stout stalks; tapering at both ends; turning red before falling.

FLOWERS: Mauve, pink or lilac, in large, erect clusters; crinkly petals with numerous stamens.

FRUITS: Nearly spherical, woody, about 2 cm long; splitting open when dry; fruit-cup with short, triangular lobes.

PHENOLOGY

LEAVES: Start turning red and purple in December; shed in FebruaryMarch; new leaves in April.

FLOWERS: Late April to June; another flush in the rains.

FRUITS: Formed by August; remaining for long on the tree.

SPECIMEN TREE (FOR WEEKLY OBSERVATION)

LOCATION: D-Block Park, Sector 27 Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India AGE/HEIGHT: Mature tree, about 8 years old. About 5 m tall.

POINT OF OBSERVATION: All images are taken from the SouthWestern side unless stated otherwise.

N

WEEK 01 (February 02 2020)

WEEK 02 (February 09 2020)

OBSERVATIONS

OBSERVATIONS

Yellowing of leaves observed. Fruits are ripe.

Leaves have started to turn yellow, orange, red and purple. No significant changes observed. Ripe fruit started drying.

WEEK 03 (February 17 2020)

WEEK 04 (February 23 2020)

OBSERVATIONS

OBSERVATIONS

More leaves changing colour. Some ripe fruits split open to release the seed.

Visible shedding of leaves; reduction in canopy size.

WEEK 05 (March 02 2020)

WEEK 06 (March 09 2020)

OBSERVATIONS

OBSERVATIONS

No significant changes observed.

Most leaves have turned yellowbrown; canopy size reduced due to shedding of leaves.

WEEK 08 (March 25 2020) | Picture taken from North-Eastern side; Park

OBSERVATIONS

Visible shedding of leaves; canopy size has reduced significantly.

closure due to COVID-19 Lock-down.

WEEK 07 (March 18 2020) OBSERVATIONS

All leaves have been shed. Fruits visible only.

WEEK 11 (April 14 2020) | Picture taken from North-Eastern side; Park closure

OBSERVATIONS

Bare branches re-leaf; small tender leaves emerge. Canopy size is small. due to COVID-19 Lock-down.

closure due to COVID-19 Lock-down.

WEEK 09 (April 05 2020) | Picture taken from North-Eastern side; Park

OBSERVATIONS

Leaves have grown much larger in size. Canopy is bigger and denser.

Fruits pods are wide open.

A DOCUMENTATION OF

SEASONAL VARIATION IN

LAGERSTROEMIA SPECIOSA (PRIDE OF INDIA)

UNDERTAKEN BY

PRAGYA SHUKLA SPA/NS/LA/657 MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (2019-2021) SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, NEW DELHI

Source: https://ellya-brill-bt4x.squarespace.com/leaves-and-others