The Spectacular Tree!

The Kydia (Kydia Calycina/वारंग, वरंग, रानभेंडी) is rapidly growing, deciduous tree. This beautiful tree flowers when very few native trees are in bloom, that is after rains. And after flowering season also, it continues to look attractive for many months while it’s the rusty fruit ripen and dry out. 

The tree flowers profusely with small flowers which occur in axillary or terminal panicles. Flowers are fragrant and creamish white, greenish white or pink coloured which itself is a delight to watch.

Kydia grows on wide range of habitats, including arid regions. It is often grown as an ornamental species. It is a small to moderate sized deciduous tree. Though deciduous, one may hardly notice a leaf-less tree. Dark green foliage is present throughout the year giving dense shade. The leaf blade is nearly round, usually palmate 3-5-lobed. 

It is propagated by seeds, root suckers or cuttings. It coppices well. Leaves can be used as fodder. The wood is used as fuel and for making charcoal. The tree is valued for the leaves which are lopped for fodder. In the wild, leaves are eaten by the elephants, sambar, deer and bison. The wood is a good source of commercial potash. The young bark is mucilaginous and cold infusion of it is used for clarifying sugarcane juice. The tree is harvested from the wild for its fibre, which is used locally to make coarse ropes. Due to profuse flowering, Kydia flowers during September-October. It attracts number of bees, butterflies, insects and birds during this period having a significant role to play in Apiculture. Bees visiting the tree tend to produce thick and sweet honey. 

Medicinally, the parts of Kydia tree are known to have the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is often utilised as shade tree or windbreak. The tree is also valued for erosion control. Being such a spectacular tree, it should be planted in gardens, along the roads and societies due its ornamental properties.