Nature Diary

The Copper Pod or The yellow flame tree

This tree is widely grown in tropical regions as an ornamental tree particularly in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Australia, Pakistan, Nigeria, etc. Its natural habitat is actually the teak forests of Java in Indonesia but grown all over because of its beauty.
In India, these trees have been planted alternately with the red-flowering gulmohar tree as a road-side tree. Its official name is Peltophorum Pterocarpum and it is also called the yellow gulmohur and the rusty shield bearer.
Like the gulmohar to look at, the copper pod has a much smoother bark and its leaves are similar too, with several "leaflets" on a leaf, and bigger too (each leaflet is oval and about 1-2 cm long). The easiest way to spot it is to look for the tell-tale yellow-gold carpet made by its copiously falling yellow flowers. Walking on such a carpet gives you that really royal feeling. Contrasting with the red gulmohar, these red and yellow colours brighten up our roads in summer, though, unlike the Gulmohar, its leaves do not all fall off when it is in bloom.
The flowering season begins at the end of February and reaches its peak in the middle of April so look out for it now.
The flowers are bright yellow coloured, with several clustered together at the end of branches. The wrinkled-looking flowers in fact fall off the trees when they are still fresh and account for the amazing colour of the "carpet".
Trees begin to flower after about four years. The fruit is a seed pod 5-10 cm long and 2.5 cm broad, containing one to four seeds. red at first, ripening black, and containing one to four seeds. The large pods are very visible since they remain on the tree till the next flowering season which can even be in September. In most cities in India, this tree bears flowers throughout the year, although not in such copious amounts. In colour, the pods are a rich coppery-red or rusty brown gold when young, maturing to a full copper colour and finally turn black. This gives them their name `copper pod.'
The bark of the tree has medicinal uses as a tonic or an astringent to cure or relieve liver and intestinal disorders, sprains, bruises and swellings or as a lotion for eye infections, muscular pains and sores.
The root, on the other hand, is traditionally used in sickness during pregnancy and also in treating tuberculosis. The tree itself traps dust and suspended particles; hence their popularity as avenue trees that line busy city roads.
These trees are not only excellent shade providers but are also home to many birds and animals such as golden orioles, coppersmith barbers, spotted doves, mynas, squirrels, bats and lizards. The pollen and nectar attract bees and insects in turn attract insectivorous birds. However, the pollen can cause allergic disorders in sensitive patients.
--Based on several sources