Barna (Garlic Pear Tree) Crateva adansonil

Beautiful Barna Tree

Summers here - Cool Crataeva / Sacred Barna Tree

Barna, Crataeva adansonii. (Barna family)

Barna

Barna Tree/ Varun Plant

Barna, Varuna fruit

          Sacred Barna Tree, garlic pear, Bengal Quince, Barun, Bila, Bilasi,  Biliana, Narnohi.

                                                            Barna family Capparaceae

                                                           Beautiful Barna Tree

                                                                       Barna Tree

                                                      

Barna, Crataeva adansonii.

                                                                           Fruit

Barna (Garlic Pear Tree). A smaller tree that does well in shady sites. It has white flowers, which eventually turn yellow. The flowers are seen only in April. A postal stamp was once issued by Indian Postal Department to commemorate this tree. Spot it at  Veer Bhumi Rajghat, Around Qutub Minar, Talkatora Garden.

Barna : One of the beautiful ornamental flowering trees of Delhi. It is called the sacred garlic pear and temple plant. It is found throughout  India. Usually a small crooked tree over 10 meters tall. Bare for a very long period in the dry season but arrestingly beautiful in full bloom in late April. The smooth compound leaves with 3 leaflets are useful diagnostic clue. Seasons : Leaves : straggly or shed by November. New leaves in April, canopy renewed by May.  Leaves compound with 3 thin smooth leaflets growing on a long common stalk. The two leaflets on either side are markedly asymmetric at  their bases. The central one is symmetrical 8-12 cm long narrowed at both ends with a short pointy tip. Being Leafless : for many months is a tactic to survive drought. Flower : with a new leaves peaking by late April. Flowers in dense terminal clusters, just before or along with the new leaves. There are 4 white petals ( not all of equal length) that fade gradually to yellow. The stamens have long electric purple filaments. The solitary round ovary is held at the end of a long stalk even longer than stamens. Fruit: appears in May turn red in September. About a size of a golf ball (though not perfectly round) growing at the end of a thick stalk. Green at first, turning red and woody and eventually a rich leathery brown.. The yellow pulp inside smell of a garlic and eventually turns black.

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