Saptaparni Tree- All about the October fragrance in Delhi
Our bodies have beautifully been engineered to not only smell things but to remember those scents. Scents take a toll down memory lane and make us re-live moments. The human brain can pick 1 part per million of these scents in the air. Our brain beautifully processes these scents and encodes them as memories. Apparently, we can remember about 50k scents! The onset of Delhi winters is associated with an alluring fragrance from the Saptaparni Tree!
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The soothing magic of Saptaparni Tree
Delhi, is a city that never stops and ironically also the city that makes us stop and wonder about the beauty around us. Amidst the hustle, the Delhi evening walks and rides are accompanied by the soothing scent of the Saptaparni tree. This intoxicating smell fills up hearts and announces the joy of the festive season.
Check out- Saptaparni Tree in News : Latest update | Drishti IAS English – YouTube
Classification
Local Name- Saptaparni Tree, Devil’s Tree
Kingdom- Plantae
Division- Tracheophyta
Class- Magnoliopsida
Order- Gentianales
Family- Apocynaceae
Genus- Alstonia
Species- Alstonia scholaris
History of Saptaparni Tree in Delhi
According to the records, this tree was first planted in the Golf Link colonies in Delhi (1940s). Due to its high degree of tolerance against pollution and its high adaptability, the tree has become a very common one on the streets.
The Sanskrit word ‘sapta’ means seven and ‘parni’ means leaves, hence this tree is named so because leaves are found in bunches of seven on it.
Characteristics of Saptaparni Tree
This tree is native to the Asian continent. They come under the category of evergreen trees with white-coloured funnel-shaped flowers having milky sap. The leaves are found around the stem in bunches of seven and have a glossy texture with starry symmetries. The flowering season is from October-November and bears fruits from January-February.
Ayurvedic Benefits of the plant
- Useful in treating skin disorders.
- Twigs of the tree are used for brushing teeth because of their bactericidal property.
- Improves appetite.
- Increases lactation in new mothers.
- Efficient blood purifier
- Beneficial in dyspnea
The tree has assigned Delhi a characteristic smell we all relate to! So next time when you go out on a walk with your friends on a Delhi October evening, remember to mention that you just read some incredible facts about the Saptaparni tree!
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