With the onset of spring season, the flat land of Terai and Chure of Nepal have been covered with Delonix regia, a fast-growing tree with an umbrella shape while jacaranda trees have blanketed the tarred roads and busy sidewalks of the Kathmandu Valley.
Delonix regia evokes joyful feelings to the people travelling along the East-West Highway. The trees have covered mostly the plans of eastern region rather than the western part of Nepal.
One can see Delonix regia in almost all the government offices, public places, choks, bazaar areas and industrial areas.
While the purple, white and blue jacaranda trees planted along the roadside in Kathmandu Valley have fascinated the domestic and international tourists alike.
Botanist Prof. Dar Shashi Nath Jha said that both the trees—genus of Shirish—are not native of Nepal. However, they don’t have special quality than the Shirish.
Jacaranda mimosifolia is a sub-tropical tree native to south-central South America. Jacaranda is the native tree of Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil while Delonix regia is the native of northern and western Madagascar.
Though Delonix regia was found widely in the forests of Madagascar in the past, the trees are declining rapidly at present. That is why, scientists have enlisted Delonix regia in the endangered list.
Both the trees are spreading rapidly across the world these days. The flowers appear in spring and early summer, and last for up to four to five months.
That the saplings of Delonix regia were planted in almost all the palace of the country and on the premises of Prime Minister’s office. Delonix regia is also called royal plant.
It is obvious to raise the question as to how the saplings of these trees were brought to Nepal from across the seven seas.
Experts assumed that the saplings of these trees were brought to Nepal from India.
There are many evidences that the saplings of Jacaranda trees were brought to Nepal from Darjeeling.
Sur Shamsher Rana, a member of former Prime Minister Bir Shamsher’s family, brought the plant to Nepal in the 1920s from Darjeeling and planted on the premises of his house.
It has been learnt that many people took the saplings from his house and they were expanded across the country.
During her visit to Nepal in 1961, Queen Elizabeth had also planted the saplings of Jacaranda on the roadside and various places of the Kathmandu to beautify the city.
But some botanists claimed that Jacaranda was brought to Nepal 150 years ago.
Delonix regia of Tarai, however, has no history. But many botanists said that the saplings of Delonix regia was brought to Nepal from India and is also called the ornamental plant.
Prof. Dr Jha said, “The native population of Jacaranda is found in higher altitude while Delonix regia can be found at elevations between sea level to 2000 m above. Delonix regia is found in areas of medium to lower altitudes with annual rainfall above 700 mm.”
According to Deputy Professor Dr Bhubindra Nirauala, this Shirish is found blooming especially in Australia, Africa, China, Taiwan and Thailand, among other countries.
Jacaranda blossoms from April to June in Nepal and Jacaranda trees burst into purple blooms in February in Australia and in June in Florida of America.
The Department of Forest said that this Shirish is very popular in rural areas for woods.
Delonix regia has been taken as an important tree in many countries. Cheng Kung University of Taiwan has kept Delonix regia in its logo.
Jacaranda trees usually grow up to 15 metres tall. The flower of Jacaranda trees last for around four months.
Delonix regia also grows up to around 15 metres. Among 6,391 species of plants found in Nepal, these two trees have also sub-species, Dr Niraula said.
