Trees of Indian Statistical Institute,

Bengaluru Campus.

Thanks to Wikipedia for providing info about these plants

A. Spectacular flowering trees

1. African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata ) : A row of trees on main-gate to main building road on football field side.
2. GulMohar/Flamboyant/Krishnachura (Delonix regia ): A row of trees in front of B-Type quarters.
3. Indian Laburnum/Kakke ( Cassia fistula ): Beautiful hanging yellow flowers. A few in the jungle in between RS hostel and Platinum jubilee auditorium. Many lost during the auditorium construction.
4. Yellow Flame/Radhachura ( Peltophorum pterocarpum ): Big tree opposite to Mahalanobis statue (other side of main road). Many coming up on either side of the road to C-D quarters.
5. Temple tree ( Plumeria sp.): Many different types in lawns in front of the main building, including a sapling planted by Arun Shourie. Some more can be seen towards the east side of the guest house.
6. Dalichandra ( Markhamia lutea or Dolichandrone lutea ): Yellow flowers. One next to staircase in between library and annexe classrooms. Observe special leaflet like formations near leaf base. The Kannada name seems to have come from the second Botanical name!
7. Jacaranda ( Jacaranda mimosifolia ) : A beautiful tree between hostel-1 and main building, next to TT room. Truly spectacular when in bloom.
8. Kanakachampa ( Pterospermum acerifolium ): One tree between hostel-1 and main building. Next to main building. Large leaves and large white flowers.
9. Yellow bells (Tecoma stans) : Small trees/shrubs with yellow flowers on the other side of the road to yellow bamboo (next to hostel).
10. Indian coral tree/ Haluvana ( Erythrina variegata): Thorny tree with great flowers. Unfortunately we have only small trees, which are yet to flower. One in between culvert & bus shed. There was one in Jairam Das Bus stand.
11. Basavana pada/ Purple Bauhinia ( Phanera purpurea/ Bauhinia purpurea ): Kannada name means hoof of bull and refers to the leaf shape.
12. Sita-Ashoka (Saraca asoca) : Real Ashoka tree where Sita was kept by Ravana. We have a few small ones next to the Guest House, towards village side. One next to the TT room towards Canteen side is just coming up.
13. Akasha Mallige/ Indian cork tree ( Millingtonia hortensis): Tall trees with jasmine like fragrant flowers on top. You may see some short ones near basket ball court. One was planted by Prof. Pl. Muthuramalingam at the time of his retirement (2015), on roadside near C type quarters.
14. Senna : We have several different Senna species. most of them have showy yellow flowers. You can see them next to the road connecting main building to C & D quarters.
15. Sampige/Champaka ( Magnolia champaca ): Fragrant flowers. A row of trees in front of the main building near five point crossing.
16. Kempu booruga/Silk Cotton tree ( Bombax ceiba ): Grand large tree with big red flowers attracting lot of birds. We have just one tree at a corner of the Campus, at the back of the guest house towards Govt. Press Gate.
17. Kapok (Ceiba pentandra ): This tree is similar to red silk cotton, but has smaller white/pink flower. We have three large specimens, most impressive near five point crossing, adjacent to a board which says `children's park'. (One across the road is a poor cousin). Two others next to Main gate and the other gate. All these trees were planted around 1998.
18. Muttuga/Palash/Flame of the Forest ( Butea monosperma ): A sacred tree for Hindus. The large leaves are used to make use and throw plates. Bright scarlet flowers are spectacular. We have few specimens in the forest, one near `pagoda' in the Children's Park.
19. Holey Dasavala/ Jarul/ Pride of India (Lagerstroemia speciosa ): The tree has beautiful flowers. There are varieties with different colors. There is no large tree in the Campus. A sapling was planted by the Director Prof. Bimal Roy in front of the RS Hostel in 2015.
20. Pink trumpet tree ( Handroanthus impetiginosus/Tabebuia avellanedae ): The tree looks beautiful in bloom as it sheds all leaves. You may find a row of these trees bordering the football field.
21. Tree of gold (Tabebuia aurea/Tecoma argentea ): Bright yellow flowers justifying the name. One nice specimen next to the round about near C& D quarters.
22. Paarijaata/Harshringar/Shefali/Siuli/Night-flowering Jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis ): Beautiful fragrant flowers opening at night. See a good plant coming up in the round about in front of the Canteen. There is another plant near Annexe classrooms.
23. Bakul/Bokul/Maulsari ( Mimusops elengi): Another fragrant night flower. See a small sapling next to the previous tree in the round about. There is a beautiful row of these trees in ISI Delhi next to the path from the Maingate to the Canteen.
24. Weeping bottle brush (Melaleuca viminalis ): Beautiful flowering trees from Australia. We have a tree in the Children's Park, close to toy-house and swing and a few next to the Guest House (kitchen side). Some good specimens are seen in ISI Delhi campus near their main building.
25. Nagalinga/Cannon ball tree ( Couroupita guianensis ): The tree can produce a sizable number of large flowers eventually producing round canon ball like fruits. We have a small tree in front of B-6, towards the Children's park. You may see a nice tree near ISI Kolkata Guest house. You can also find it near Jnanabharathi (Bangalore University) Gate, at the back of a tea shop.
26. Doddatagache/Candle bush (Senna alata ): Small tree/bush in front of the main building lawns between white and red plumeria. This has beautiful yellow candle like flowers. Apparently the tree also has medicinal uses.
27. Karaveera/Yellow Oleander ( Cascabela thevetia ): Yellow flowering garden tree with poisonous fruits. You may find some in the Children's park.

B. Fruit trees

1. Mango ( Mangifera indica ) : King of Fruits. People who call some other fruits as king of fruits perhaps have not tasted good mangoes. You may see several trees near C & D quarters. One tree in front of B-1.
2. Tamarind ( Tamarindus indica ): The word means Indian date and it is an essential ingredient of Indian curry.
3. Jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ): This gives the biggest fruit on trees. Tender fruits are used as vegetables. The tree is native to Western Ghats. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh. You may see two trees next to B5.
4. Cashew ( Anacardium occidentale ): This has come to us from South America. You may see some trees near RS Hostel close to compound wall.
5. Seethaphal/Attha/Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa ): Gives a fruit with lots of seeds. You may see a specimen in between culvert and the bus shed bordering the main road. There are several trees of in front of B-5.
6. Bettada Nelli/Amla/Avla/Indian Gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica): Fruits famous for high vitamin C content, with medicinal properties and several traditional uses including pickling. Have fruits and drink some water and the water tastes sweet!
7. Sihinelli/ Star Gooseberry(Phyllanthus acidus): Somewhat sour fruits. You may see a nice tree in front of D quarters where the path from RS hostel joins.
8. Nuggekaayi/Sajna/Sahijna/ Drum stick tree ( Moringa oleifera): Tender drum stick fruits (long seed pods) are used as vegetables. Even flowers and tender leaves are edible. There are a few trees in between the tar road and D quarters.
9. Papaya (Carica papaya): The trees are short lived and also monkeys are fond of eating their leaves and destroying them. So it is difficult to pinpoint a place in the campus where you can find them. Typically you may see them cultivated next to houses.
10. Baley Hannu/Kela/Banana (Musa sp. ): Some trees near C&D quarters, at the back of canteen, hostel 1.
11. Seebe/Amrud/Guava( Psidium guajava): Very tasty fruits. So common in India that now it is difficult to beleive that trees came from the new world. You may see two trees on either side of passage to Annexe classrooms.
12. Chikku/Sapota/Sapodilla ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota): Sweet fruits! A beatiful tree growing up in between the main building passage and the library.
13. Dalimbe/Anar/Pomegranate (Punica granatum ): Some trees behind RS hostel.
14. Avocado (Persea americana ): This is also known as butter fruit. Three or four trees behind B-4.
15. Nerale/Jamun/Java plum (Syzygium cumini): A very popular fruit. See a huge tree next to the culvert in the road from five point crossing to C&D quarters. Another tree in front of C type quarters. In his book Trees of Delhi, Pradip Krishen seems to call this tree as `Rai Jamun', Syzigium nervosum. However, as per Wikipedia Syzygium nervosum is a tree from Australia and there is very little additional information. There is another closely related species in the Children's Park, next to the swing & Toy house, called locally as `Nai Nerale'.
16. Yelachi/Ber/Indian Jujube(Ziziphus mauritiana): You have to look for this fruit in the wild. You may also find the closely related Jackal Jujube , with small black fruits in thorny climbing shrubs.

C. Some special trees

1. Sandalwood tree (Santalum Album ): Many small trees in the campus, self-propagated through seed. Big ones have been stolen. There is one opposite to Mahalanobis statue (other side of main road).
2. Honge/Karanj (Milletia pinnata/Pongamia pinnata ): It is a tree which gives beautiful cool shade in summer. A bunch in the traffic island between canteen, new hostel & main building. Seeds used as bio-fuel.
3. Eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus sp. ) : This tree which has come from Australia is perhaps the most common tree in the campus. Note that tall trees in front of the main building have beautiful hanging branches.
4. Kahi-bevu/ Neem ( Azadirachta indica ) : A tree with very bitter leaves having many medicinal properties. Have with jaggery (bella) during Ugadi! Used as bio-pesticide.
5. Rain tree (Albizia saman ): Huge trees of this type can be seen all over Bangalore. Their ability to withstand pollution and all sorts of assaults by human beings is really remarkable. One row is coming up on main road next to main gate, auditorium side.
6. False Ashoka (Polyalthia longifolia):Tall ever green tree common in our gardens. One row in front of main building has been tragically cut short (Reason given: They obstructed whitewashing of the building!).
7. Kadamba (Neolamarckia cadamba ): Famous in our mythology. Pluffy flowers like balls of ball-badminton. Two trees on the backside of BMath hostel. As per Pradip Krishen of Trees of Delhi fame, the real Kadamba of Brindavan is Mitragyna parvifolia .
8. Kaadu Badami /Indian Almond ( Terminalia catappa ) : Large leaves which turn pinkish-reddish before falling. One nice specimen encircled by Annexe of the main building. One at the back side of B-3. I was surprised to see many of these in Brazil (Rio).
9. Traveller's palm (Ravenala madagascariensis): The tree right in front of the main building can't be missed. The tree looks like a palm and leaves are like banana leaf. But it is not a palm and is not related to banana either.
10. Antuvaala/Reetha/Soap nut (Sapindus trifoliatus ): The berries are used as soap, especially to wash jewellery. You may find a fine specimen next to the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium towards the village.
11. Singapore Cherry (Muntingia calabura):The wikipedia tells that this has come from Mexico and South America. Small trees with small flowers and berries attracting birds (and kids!) all through the year. You may see a nice specimen across the road in front of RS Hostel.
12. Bevu/Curry tree (Murraya koenigii ): The leaves of this tree are essential for any good curry! Some trees can be found behind canteen or next to some houses.
13. Mehendi tree/Henna ( Lawsonia inermis): The dye prepared from the plant used in decorating body parts.You may see a nice specimen between C type quarters and the water tank.
14. Ankole/Sage-leaved alangium (Alangium salviifolium ): One tree in the extreme corner of lawn in front of the main building towards main gate. The fruits are edible but not very tasty.
15. Umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla ): Interesting leaves and special flower racemes. One tree just next to the previous tree Ankole.
16. Bilva/Bael/Wood apple/Stone apple( Aegle marmelos): Leaves used to worship Siva. Large round fruits are edible. One beautiful tree at the back of canteen taken care of by our cooks.
17. Belada mara/Kath Bel/Wood apple ( Limonia acidissima)): Another thorny tree with hard round edible fruits. One large tree next to the toy house in the children's park.
18. Putranjiva ( Putranjiva roxburghii ): This is a tree which is supposed to be very important in Ayurveda. You may just one plant in the Campus, in the Children's park, close to B-10.
19. Holeymatti/Arjuna ( Terminalia arjuna): Handsome tall trees with smooth white bark in the Chidren's park near the slide.
20. Taare/Behera ( Terminalia bellerica): A couple of small trees near the path from basketball court to the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium. Expected to grow into huge trees.
21. Saguvani/Teak ( Tectona grandis ): Famous timber tree found all over the campus. It has arge leaves and they are shed in the winter. See a bunch of trees in the Children's park near pagoda.
22. Surahonney/Alexandrian Laurel ( Calophyllum inophyllum): The tree has smooth leaves with beautiful veins. You can see just one specimen in the campus, in the Annexe, next to the large Indian Almond tree.
23. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis ): The fruits look like small jackfruits and are used as vegetables. Find them in between B-4 and B-5.
24. Christmas tree/Cook pine ( Araucaria columnaris ) : A favourite of Indian gardeners in formal gardens. Planted by several dignitaries in front of various buildings, like main building, hostel-1.
25. Oriental Thuja/ More-pankhi ( Platycladus orientalis ): The Hindi name means feathers of Pea-cock, referring to the shape of leaves. A few bushes in front of main building, hostel-1. Common in all formal gardens of India often as hedge.
26. Coral bush ( Jatropha multifida ): One tree in front of B-5.

D. Palms

1. Tenginakaayi/Nariyal/Coconut ( Cocos nucifera ): See several trees near canteen towering above garden umbrellas.
2. Adike/Supari/Areca nut palm/ betel nut palm ( Areca catechu): Chewing areca nut seeds is quite traditional and popular in India. A may find a row of these palms in between main building and Annexe (Canteen side).
3. Royal Palm ( Roystonea regia ): A row of majestic tall trees on the way to the guest house towards football field can't be missed.
4. Fishtail palm ( Caryota rumphiana): The name refers to shape of leaves. Very elegant looking tree. We have one at the backside of main building on the ground and many small ones in pots.
5. Indian wilddate palm ( Phoenix sylvestris ): It is truly wild in the campus. You may find some beyond the parking after B 10 quarters also in the forest near main culvert.
6. Other palms : Several ornamental palms in pots and next to lawns.

E. Bamboo

Technically bamboo is not a tree, it is grass! As per Wikipedia, the word bamboo comes from the Kannada term `bambu', which was introduced to English through Indonesian and Malay. Some bamboo species flower at intervals as long as 65 or 120 years.
1. Golden Bamboo ( Bambusa vulgaris): A big cluster next to Hostel 1 and a row of them at the back of the Guest House.
2. Green bamboo ( Not sure!): See a cluster next to the golden bamboo of Hostel 1, on the other side of the road. One more cluster in the Children's park. Many more in the forest. We seem to have only non-spiny varieties.
3. Budhdha bamboo ( Bambusa ventricosa): See two of these in pots in front of the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium.

F. Other trees

1. Casuarina ( Casuarina equisetifolia ): Tall trees with needle like leaves. You may see a row between B2 and B3 quarters.
2. Silver Oak ( Grevillea robusta ): Tall fast growing trees. See near compound wall near main gate.
3. Doddabevu/Huchchu bevu ( Melia dubia ): A tree which is known to grow super fast. You may see a tall tree near the generator (close to main gate).
4. Janthaala mara/Batino ( Alstonia macrophylla ): You may see this tree next to the previous tree (Melia dubia ) and another near the bus shed. A better description of the tree can be found at: Flowers of India.
5. Dora Hunase/Jungle Jalebi ( Pithecellobium dulce ): Apparently this `Jalebi' from Mexico is also edible. You may see a fine specimen in front of D type quarters, near the path to RS Hostel.
6. Paper mulberry ( Broussonetia papyrifera ): Apparently historically this tree was used in paper making. The leaves are variable in shape. You may find this on the left side of the road from five point crossing to C&D quarters before tamarind trees.
7. Hippe/South Indian Mahuwa/Buttercup ( Madhuca longifolia var. longifolia): You may spot a small tree in the Children's park near slide and bamboo cluster.
8. Arali/Ashwatha/Peepal ( Ficus religiosa): The sacred tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. One large tree behind the Annexe near compound wall. There is a small tree coming up in front of the BMath hostel towards the Canteen side.
9. Ala/Vat/Banyan (Ficus benghalensis ): We have a small sapling planted by Prof. K R Parthasarathy, near the culvert on main road, towards the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium. Don't miss the big banyan tree ( Dodda Alada Mara) which is just eighteen kilometers away from ISI.
10. Mahogany/Honduras-Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla ): A good timber tree. Note the strange looking fruits. A couple of trees in the Children's park.
11. Sheesham/ Indian Rosewood ( Dalbergia sissoo): Another timber wood. You may find this in the Children's park.
12. Aapta/Bidi-leaf tree ( Bauhinia racemosa): Another Bauhinia (see shape of the leaf). One tree near toy house in the children's park another next to front road of RS Hostel.
13. Bili Mandara/Snowy Orchid-tree ( Snowy Orchid-tree ): A dwarf Bauhinia with beautiful white flowers. See small bushes in front of B-5 and B-6.
14. Hoovarasi/Portia tree ( Thespesia populnea): Looking at leaves people often confuse this with Peepul tree . We have a few small trees. You may see one in the Children's park near Pagoda. A more prominent tree can be seen adjacent to the entry gate of Govt. Press (keep your nose closed as `Swachch Bharath' seems to have no effect here). It does have nice flowers looking like bhendi/Okra flowers.
16. Earleaf Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis): This is a popular plant with the Karnataka Forest Dept., for planting as it grows easily. You may see one opposite B-10, towards the Children's Park. Note coiled fruit pods.
17. Badminton ball tree ( Parkia biglandulosa): Some small trees in the forest. If you are wondering as to what is this ball, look at: Ball Badminton.
18. Thor/Indian Spurge Tree ( Euphorbia neriifolia ): This looks like cactus and is apparently native to India. Small bushes at the back of C & D quarters and at many other places.
19. Sickle bush (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea): Characteristic bi-colored flower spikes. Find in the Children's park.
20. Simarouba ( Simarouba glauca ): Apparently seeds of this nice looking tree give edible oil. You may find one tree in the Children's Park.
21. Earpod tree ( Enterolobium contortisiliquum ): The pods of this tree are ear shaped. The tree is unarmed. Several times a large number of butterflies were seen attracted by flowers of this tree. You can see this in the Children's park near Pagoda, some of the branches spreading to the road.
22. Chenne/Gulaganji mara/ Red Bead tree ( Adenanthera pavonina ): The tree has very beautiful red seeds. There was a small tree in the Children's park, close to B-9.
23. Atthi/Odumbara/ Cluster fig ( Ficus racemosa ) Another ficus tree. You may find one large tree near the library behind the main parking lot and several small trees in the forest.
24. Bili-Jaali/Ronjh/ White barked acacia ( Vachellia leucophloea Synonym: Acacia leucophloea ): A common tree of arid regions in India. You may find one tree in front of PJA towards south side and another on the side of RS Hostel where the path to D quarters begins.
25. Subabul( Leucaena leucocephala ): It is a very common tree in most parts of India and also in the Campus. Used as fodder. Subabul means `good babul' in the sense that it is non-thorny. You may see some trees near bus-shed on Main Road. Crows nibbling the pods to extract the seeds is a familiar sight.
26. Baage, Siris ( Albizia lebbeck ): One large tree behind RS Hostel near compound wall and the gate there.
27. Big egg plant, Potato tree (Solanum erianthum ): More of tall bush rather than a tree. You may see some in the forest in front of RS Hostel.

G. Recent Saplings (2014-15)

1. Cockspur Coral Tree ( Erythrina crista-galli): Planted in the mainbuildgin front lawns edge towards Hostel 1. This should have bright red flowers.
2. Marashankha pushpa/ Butterfly Pea Tree ( Clitoria arborea ): This is a tree version of the familiar Shankha Pushpa/Aparajita (Clitoria ternatea ).
3. Anjoora/Elephant ear fig ( Ficus auriculata ): A tree with large leaves and edible fruits. Two planted symmetrically next to the path from D quarters to R S Hostel.
4. Jambe/Malay Rose apple ( Syzygium malaccense ): Excellent fruits and beautiful flowers. One sapling between Hostel-1 and the Canteen.
5. Lavanga/laung/Clove ( Syzygium aromaticum): A row of saplings in between accounts office and library. The flower buds is the spice.
6. Mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana ): You may see one sapling in the `nursery' in front of RS Hostel.
******Last updated on February 23, 2016*********