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Trees suitable for planting along avenues
and for Urban Forestry

  

List compiled by:

Dr. D. Narasimhan

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Center for Floristic Research
Department of Botany
Madras Christian College, Chennai-600 059

May 2008

Native trees suitable for planting along avenues and for urban forestry

Sl.No.

Binomial

Local Name

Tree height (M)

 

Remarks

Ideal road width (Ft)

1

Crataeva adansonii DC. subsp. odora (Buch. - Ham.) Jacobs (Capparidaceae)

Mavalingam

10–15

Handsome flowering
tree with green coloured flowers. Flowers twice a year. Grows in arid conditions. Medicina.
Fruits edible.    

20-30

2

Cochlospermum religiosum (L.) Alston
(Cochlospermaceae)

Thanakku, Konghu, Kongilavu

10m

Attractive yellow flowers; grows in dry areas.

20-30

3

Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karsten (Tamaricaceae)

Adhi savukku

6

Salt tolerant tree,grows
in windy sandy areas. Requires less water.

20

4

Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Clusiaceae)

Punnai, Pinnai, Nagam, Punnai nagam

5

Suitable for seashores; religious importance; oil source.

30-40

5

Hibiscus tiliaceus L.
(Malvaceae)

Nirparathi, Athuparutthi, Athupoovarasu

8

Evergreen foliage tree with beautiful yellow flowers; good for seashores as well as inlands. Salt and wind resistant.  

20-30

6

Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland ex Correa
(Malvaceae)

Poovarasu

8

Evergreen foliage tree with beautiful yellow flowers good for seashores as well as inlands. Salt and wind resistant.  

30-40

7

Pterospermum canescens Roxb. (Sterculiaceae)

Sembolavu, Sitrillaipolavu, Tada, Vennaangu

15

Hardy tree with evergreen foliage. Suitable for sandy shores and inland areas

30-40

8

Pamburus missionis (Wight) Swingle
(Rutaceae)

Kurundhu, Kaattu Narinji

8

Beautiful foliage ornamental tree. Not grazed. Good for dry localities

20-30

9

Atalantia monophylla (L.) Correa (Rutaceae)

Kaattunaragam, Kaattu Elumichai, Kaattu Kichili, Kaattu Kurundhu

5

Hardy tree, suitable for dry areas. Flowers white, fragrant

20

10

Chloroxylon swietenia DC. (Rutaceae)

Purasa maram, Porsi maram

15

Hardy tree with good-looking foliage. Good for  dry areas

<30

11

Ochna obtusata DC. (Ochnaceae)

Serundhi, Silandhi, Panjaram

5

Attractive shiny leaves and bright yellow flowers

20

12

Commiphora caudata (Wight & Arn.) Engler
(Burseraceae)

Kiluvai, Pachai kiluvai, Karpoora kiluvai, Malai kiluvai

5

Attractive green bark, suitable for dry areas

20-40

13

Aglaia elaeagnoidea (Juss.) Benth.
(Meliaceae)

Chokkalai, Kanni kombu

6

Evergreen foliage tree

30-40

14

Walsura trifolia (A. Juss) Harms (Meliaceae)

Waalasoora, Malai viraali, Kanjimaram

10

Hardy slow growing tree. Good for planting in coastal areas as well as inlands.

30-40

15

Cansjera rheedii Gmel. (Opiliaceae)

4

Pendulous branches with evergreen foliage.

20

16

Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze (Celastraceae)

Karuvaali, Eerkolli

15-20

Hardy slow growing tree with evergreen foliage.

<40

17

Lepisanthes tetraphylla (Vahl.) Radlk.
(Sapindaceae)

Neikkottan

8

Slow growing evergreen tree, suitable for dry areas. Fruits edible.

<30

18

Filicium decipiens (Wight & Arn.) Thw.
(Sapindaceae)

Vaal muruchan maram, Ningal 

10

Very attractive evergreen foliage. Provides dense shade tree, offers good shade.

<40

19

Buchanania axillaris (Desr.) Ramam.
(Anacardiaceae)

Kalmaangai, Kaattu maangai, Mudai maangai

10

Suitable for dry areas

30-40

20

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Fabaceae)

Punga maram

10

Attractive shiny foliage; provides good shades, seeds a source of bio-diesel. 

30-40

21

Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. (Fabaceae)

Porasu, Murukku

8

Slow growing, attractive orange yellow flowers

30-40

22

Dalbergia lanceolaria L.
(Fabaceae)

Erigei, Nalvellangu

15

Tree with spreading crown, suitable for planting on wide roads.

>40

23

Bauhinia purpurea L. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Mantharai

5

An elegant tree with pink flowers. 

20-30 

24

Bauhinia tomentosa L. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Iruvatchi

3

Hardy species with yellow flower

20

25

Cassia javanica L. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Seemai kondrai

10

Attractive dense pink flowers.

>30

26

Delonix elata (L.) Gamble (Caesalpiniaceae)

Vaadhanarayanan, Vaadhamadakki

15

Easily propagated through cuttings, medicinal

>30

27

Hardwickia binata Roxb. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Aacha

15

Tree with narrow crown

20-30 

28

Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Wilde (Caesalpiniaceae)

Asoka, Asokam

10

Slow growing. Grows in semi-shaded areas.

>30

29

Albizia lebbeck (L.) Willd. (Mimosaceae)

Vaagai

15-20

Drought resistance tree

>40

30

Albizia odoratissima (L.f.) Benth. (Mimosaceae)

Karuvaagai

15

Deciduous, hardy, suitable for dry areas

>40

31

Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. Ex DC.) Wight & Arn.
(Combretaceae)

Vellai marudhu, Neer Marudhu

15-20

Tree with smooth white trunk

>40

32

Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.
(Combretaceae)

Thani, Thandri

15-20

Slow growing hardy tree.

>40

33

Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae)

Natvadumai, Naattu Badaam

15

Suitable for coastal and inland areas

>30

34

Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn.
(Barringtoniaceae)

Neer kadambu, Sengadambu

10

Suitable for planting in coastal areas and inland areas

30-40

35

Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng.
(Barringtoniaceae)

Arattham, Samuthirakkadambu, Samuthirapaalai

15

Suitable for planting in coastal areas

30-40

36

Memecylon edule Roxb. (Melastomataceae)

Kaaya, Kaasa

3

Evergreen foliage, attractive blue flowers, needs to be trained into a tree.

20

37

Memecylon umbellatum Burm. (Melastomataceae)

Kaaya, Kaasa

3

Evergreen foliage, attractive blue – purple flowers, needs to be trained into a tree.

20

38

Lagerstroemia reginae Roxb. (Lythraceae)

Poo Maruthu

10

Attractive pink flowers.

30

39

Schefflera stellata (Gaertn.) Harms
(Araliaceae)

Peimiratti

8

Foliage ornamental

30

40

Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.) A.Rich. ex Walp.
(Rubiaceae)

Vellai kadambu

15-20

Tree with large spreading crown and beautiful globose heads. 

>40

41

Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.
(Rubiaceae)

Boodha kadambu, Chinna kadambu, Neer kadambu

15–20

Tree of religious importance, yields valuable timber 

>40

42

Ixora pavetta Andr.
(Rubiaceae)

Chulundu, Koraan, Korivi,

5

Hardy species with white fragrant flowers

20

43

Morinda pubescens J.E. Smith (Rubiaceae)

Manjanatti, Manjal nuna, Nuna

8

Hardy species; suitable for dry areas. Fruit used as source for Noni, a health drink

30

44

Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard
(Sapotaceae)

Kannupalai, Paala maram

15

Tree of religious importance; suitable for both coastal and inland plantation

30

45

Mimusops elengi L.
(Sapotaceae)

Magizham

15-20

Evergreen foliage; flowers fragrant; religious importance

>40

46

Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel.
(Ebenaceae)

Thumbika, Ettu kottai pazham

20

Evergreen foliage; yields edible fruits 

30-40

47

Vitex altissima L.f. (Verbenaceae)

Mayilaadi

10

Attractive foliage

20-30

48

Premna latifolia Rozb. (Verbenaceae)

Erumai munnai, Munnai, Pasu munnai

6

Tree with umbrella crown; flowers attract lot of butterflies 

20

49

Premna serratifolia L. (Verbenaceae)

Munnai

8

Tree with spreading branche; leaves medicinal 

20-30

50

Gyrocarpus asiaticus Willd. (Hernandiaceae)

Thanakku

10

Deciduous; easily propagated by cuttings. Suitable for dry regions. 

30

51

Borassus flabellifer L. (Arecaceae)

Panai

10

Hardy draught resistant species

20

52

Caryota urens L.
(Arecaceae)

Koondhal panai

12

Attractive ornamental palm

20

Non -Native trees suitable for planting along avenues and for urban forestry

1

Muntingia calabura L. (Elaeocarpaceae)

Singapore cherry

6

Evergreen foliage with attractive white flowers and red edible berries. Provides dense shade and attracts birds.

20-30

2

Malpighia glabra L. (Malpighiaceae)

West Indian cherry

4

Hardy tree with attractive red edible fruits. Withstands pruning.

20

3

Guaiacum officinale L. (Zygophyllaceae)

Tree of life 

8

Slow growing hardy evergreen tree with beautiful blue flowers, needs to be trained.

>30

4

Spathodea campanulata Beauv. (Bignoniaceae)

Patadi

15

Lofty tree with attractive reddish flowers.

>40


 

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