Green Power

"Your trending Gond Kateera"

The Kulu tree, also called the Ghost Tree, Tragacanth tree, Karaya Gum tree, and Kateera Gum tree is a very distinctive medium sized deciduous tree species native to India which is drought resistant and can grow very well in a water scarce environment.

It grows excellently well in the dry deciduous forests and rocky hills, typically between 400-800m altitude.

Its trunk is pale, smooth, with a fibrous bark that peels off in flakes according to its name-Ghost tree.

Large leaves are 3-5 loved and clustered at twig tips turning yellow and falling in the dry season (this picture being taken sometime around the fall season). Bears sticky flowers which are polygamous (male, female, bisexual on the same individual) which one maturing gives a star shaped pod with black coloured seeds, surrounded by stinging red hair.

These days, a gum called Gond Kateera is trending in cities but I've been having it since childhood and in many parts of the nation, it is derived from Kulu only. It finds use in food, pharma, cosmetic, and textiles/paper works.
On ingestion, it has a cooling effect, acts as a digestive aid and is anti-inflammatory being rich in soluble fiber.

Do you want to know where to sight this beautiful specimen?
Let me know in the comments below.

Galgal flower!

The Galgal tree, scientifically known as Cochlospermum religiosum, is also called the Buttercup tree. It's a small, deciduous tree with large, palmately lobed leaves and golden-yellow, buttercup-shaped flowers. These flowers bloom between February and April, particularly after the leaves fall. The tree is known for its silk-cotton-like seed capsules and is found in dry deciduous forests.

Rao Jodha, Jodhpur ()
Mar 2025

All Potterheads will know who said these wise words-
"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light."

Amaltas Blooms from

Amaltas (Cassia fistula) is a stunning tree, especially during its flowering season! It typically blooms from April to June, with vibrant yellow flowers that cascade down in long, pendulous clusters. If you're looking out for Amaltas trees:

- Look for the bright yellow flowers that grow in clusters, often covering the entire tree.
- The tree's canopy is usually quite showy during the flowering season, making it hard to miss.

So, will you keep an eye out for these beautiful trees during your city commutes? Their golden hue is truly a sight to behold!

The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) is a common Nymphalid butterfly found in Delhi NCR.
This is emetic as its larvae feed on the Milkweed plants ( Calotropis procera and C. gigantea, common here in Delhi) and so it is avoided by predators.
Will share the photograph of its larval stage and pupal stage too, in some time.
The bright colouration is to warn predators that it is toxic. This defense mechanism is known as Aposematism.

The female Danaid eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus) mimics the appearance of the Plain Tiger to avoid getting predated. This defense mechanism is known as Batesian mimicry.

Plain tiger male
Asola butterfly Park, ABWLS, Delhi.
03/09/20