If the delights of nature are what draw you to Goa, here are some beauties that you shouldn’t miss at this time of year.
The lovely bunches of butter yellow flowers hanging from an almost leafless tree makes the State of Goa a veritable dourado, a golden Goa; but this aspect goes untapped as a tourism resource.
Known as bavo in the Konkan, and amaltas in North India, the Cassia fistula grabs one’s attention near the LIC building near the Patto-Mala bridge in Panjim, and in the corner of the Aga Khan Municipal Garden as one enters Margao town near the old South Goa Collectorate building.
There are trees in the Dr Francisco Luis Gomes Garden, and near the Gonsalves Mansion and Pinto Rebelo houses and several other locations in Panjim, too. But, the cluster of trees in the Aga Khan Municipal Garden in Margao makes the trees really stand out.
Imagine if there was an avenue of amaltas in the towns of Goa. What a sight it would be!
Though native to India and Southeast Asia, the tree offers little shade in summer due to its near-leafless form.
Many more amaltas trees can be found in the Joggers’ Park at Altinho in Panjim, though they largely go unnoticed — except in records by the Botanical Society of Goa, and a recent comparative garden study by Vidyut Phadte for her MSc in Environmental Science.
There are amaltas trees all over Goa, including one near my house, in Mapusa, and it is not uncommon to see amaltas in home gardens.
Though native to India and South-East Asia, the tree offers little shade in summer due to its near-leafless form — but its golden blooms make it a stunning sight to behold. It is the State Flower of Kerala, and is used in the rituals of the recently celebrated Vishu festival.
LOCAL BEE SCENE
Powered by young homegrown agriculture graduates and engineers turned beekepers, honey production, through beekeeping, is on the rise in Goa. Amaltas flowers attract bees. The flowers are a good source of nectar and pollen for honey bees and carpenter bees.
Honey bee activity promotes pollination of its attractive bunches of flowers and also in fruit crops nearby. World Bee Day, declared by the United Nations, is celebrated on May 20.
The amaltas is a beautiful ornamental tree. The flower bunches are especially attractive at sunrise and sunset in springtime and early summer.
The flowers are edible and can be added to salads, while the leaves serve as fodder for cattle and goats. It is also known as the ‘pudding-pipe tree’ because of its long pods and also as the ‘purging cassia’ because the fruit pulp is used as a herbal purgative.
Caution is advised when using the fruit pulp, even for ayurvedic purposes.
The amaltas is a beautiful ornamental tree. The flower bunches are especially attractive at sunrise and sunset in springtime and early summer.
The lake-side garden near the rajwada of the Bhonsales of Sawantwadi has a large number of amaltas trees and is a sight to witness from late spring to early summer.
In an era when there is a lot of focus on the brave Maratha, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it is worthwhile to visit the rajwada at Sawantwadi, stay overnight there and visit the garden of amaltas near the man-made lake created for rainwater harvesting in ancient times.
The tree grows easily in hot tropics and sub-tropics, and while it is drought tolerant, it cannot withstand waterlogging.
HOW TO PROPAGATE IT
Propagation of the tree is via seeds. These need to be extracted, soaked in water and sown in bags to raise seedlings. The tree grows easily in hot tropics and sub-tropics, and while it is drought tolerant, it cannot withstand waterlogging.
It can grow in marginal soil, but needs good sunlight. Initially slow-growing, it is a medium sized tree with a spreading canopy.
The seedlings of this tree are raised by Goa’s forest department and are available at its nurseries during the planting season, from June to July each year. So, why not get one and plant it near your home.
(The author is the former Chairman of the GCCI Agriculture Committee, CEO of Planter's Choice Pvt Ltd, Additional Director of OFAI and Garden Superintendent of Goa University, and has edited 18 books for Goa & Konkan).
