As I drove through the main road in CR park, a few years ago, my glance fell upon a row of trees laden with strings of mauve flowers. Totally mesmerized by their beauty, I parked my car on one side, got down and stood still, gazing at the cascading blooms, till I had had my fill. Remembering the famous quote by Thomas Gray “…full many a flower is born to blush unseen…,” I wondered if others were awestruck too by these gorgeous trees!!
Soon after, as I drove back home, without some fallen flowers and leaves, my mind began to crave and long to possess one of these trees. But which were these trees? Mr. Pradip Krishen’s book, ‘Trees of Delhi’, came in handy for its identification… Voila! It was the Moulmein rosewood tree (scientific name : Milletia peguensis) belonging to the Pea family.
Few days later, I went to get the pods that contained the seeds to have my own Milletia tree. I planted them and waited anxiously for a few days for the seeds to sprout.
However, I did see a similar looking plant come up but could not believe it was the Moulmein rosewood. Nurturing it with great love, and singing songs to it, I have waited 6 years to know its identity.
This year in the month of April, to my sheer delight, it got laden with tiny pea like mauve flowers arranged in long drooping clusters. Seeing it bloom in a pot, my heart swelled with joy! The baby leaves are soft, glossy and red in colour. The tree complete with its red foliage and mauve blooms is indeed a sight to behold! Many people count it among the most beautiful flowering trees of Delhi and well deserves the name “Jewels on a String”. Native to the dry forests of Thailand and Myanmar, it has adapted well to Delhi’s climate and is grown as an avenue tree for its spectacular flowers.
