Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
October 9, 2007 — Vasant M. SalianThe Blue Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) more often known simply as the “Jacaranda”, is a sub-tropical tree native to South America that has been widely planted elsewhere because of its beautiful and long-lasting blue flowers. The Jacarandas are impressive trees in May when covered with clusters of blue tubular flowers. The ground below them turns rapidly blue, and some gardeners might object to that quantity of litter. A variety ‘Alba’ with white flowers, and denser foliage, is occasionally available.
The tree grows to a height of 5 to 15 metres. Its bark is thin and grey-brown in colour, smooth when the tree is young though it eventually becomes finely scaly. The twigs are slender and slightly zigzag; they are a light reddish-brown in colour. The flowers are up to 5 cm long, and are grouped in 30 cm panicles. They appear in spring and early summer, and last for up to two months. They are followed by woody seed pods, about 5 cm in diameter, which contain numerous winged seeds. The Blue Jacaranda is cultivated even in areas where it rarely blooms, for the sake of its large compound leaves. These are up to 45 cm long and compound, with leaflets little more than 1 cm long.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Lamiales
Family : Bignoniaceae
Genus : Jacaranda
Species : Jacaranda mimosifolia
Pronunciation/Meaning:
- Bignoniaceae (big-no-nih-AY-see-ay) - The Bignonia family, named for the Abbe Jean Paul Bignon.
- Jacaranda (jak-uh-RAHN-duh) - From the Portugese jacarandá, having a hard core or branch.
- mimosifolia (mim-moh-sih-FOH-lee-uh) - Mimosa leaf.
Common Names:
- Blue Jacaranda, Brazilian Rose Wood, Green Ebony (English)
- Neeli gulmohur (Hindi)
- Neelkanth (Bengali)
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