Ex.No.

3 Identification and description of trees Date:

Trees can be classified into two groups namely, shade (or foliage) and ornamental trees and flowering trees. The
line of demarcation between the two groups may sometimes get blurred. In the first group, only those trees are included
which are planted for their showy ornamental foliage or for shade and which are either non flowering (eg: Cone bearing
gymnosperms) or bear inconspicuous flowers. In the second group are included trees bearing showy and ornamental
flowers.
Shade and ornamental trees tress
S. Botanical name Family Common name Particulars
No.
1. Albizzia lebbek Leguminaceae Vahai, Siris tree, Deciduous, fast growing and spreading tree
Lebbek Tree, Womans with thin feathery foliage. Resistant to
Tongue tree. drought.
2. Adenanthera Leguminaceae Bead tree, Coral wood A quick growing shade tree with green
pavonina tree, Red sandal wood bipinnate foliage, produces red beads like
tree. seeds.
3. Ailanthus excelsa Simaroubaceae Fast growing deciduous tree.
4. Ailanthus Simaroubaceae Tree of heaven
altissima
5. Alstonia scholaris Apocynaceae Devils tree Elegant tree with whorled branches.
Produces drumstick like fruits during
summer
6. Anthocephalus Rubiaceae Kadamba Tall tree with spreading crown and drooping
cadamba branches. Flowers are ball like.
7. Araucararia Pinaceae/Araucariacea Araucaria Columnar and ornamental tree. Good potted
cookii plant for indoor and outdoor decoration.
Grown as a specimen plant.
8. Azadirachta Meliaceae Vembu Medium sized ever green tree with foliage
indica light green, serrated leave. Recommended as
a avenue tree for high ways.
9. Callophuyllum Guttiferaceae Alexandrian laurel, Greek ‘Kalos” meaning beautiful and
inophyllum Dilo oil tree “phyllon” means leaf and “inophyllum”
means with strongly nerved leaves. The tree
is more attractive for its large and shining
leaves.
10. Causuarina Casuarinaceae Beef wood, she oak Suitable for growing in dry and hot tracts
equisettifolia tree. and is quick growing.
11. Cupressus Pinaceae Fast growing pyramidal shaped tree. Can be
macrocarpa grown as avenue tree.
12. Dalbergia sissoo Leguminosae Sissoo tree. Plant can stand drought as well as
submerged conditions for a fairly long
duration.
13. Eucalyptus Myrtaceae Blue gum tree It draws enormous amount of water from the
species soil. Grown as wind break at a spacing of 5
-8 m.
14. Ficus Moraceae. Banyan Huge tree with aerial roots originating from
benghalensis the branches strike into the soil and gives a
columnar support to the immense head of
 foliage.
15. Ficus benjamina Moraceae Java fig tree, Golden Evergreen tree with drooping branches. The
fig. globose fruits when ripe are very
ornamental.
16. Ficus elastica Moraceae Indian Rubber Tree Quick growing often reaching 15 to 60 m
height, smooth shining leaves. Young leaves
remain enclosed in a pinkish stipule giving
the plant an ornamental look.
17. Filicium decipiens Sapindaceae Fern leaved tree. Ornamental tree with attractive foliage.
18. Grevillea robusta Proteaceae Silver oak Evergreen tree with finely divided fern like
leaves, the under surface of which is silvery
downy.
19. Inga dulcis Leguminosae Manila tamarind. Fine thorny hedge when kept pruned. Can
be grown in drought prone areas.
20. Juniperus Pinaceae Densely branched, pyramidal tree with
bermudiana bluish green foliage. Two types of leaves
namely needle shaped (young trees) and
scale like overlapping leaves (old trees) are
seen.
21. Kigelia pinnata Bignoniaceae Fetish tree, sausage Spreading, moderate sized shade tree,
tree popularly called ‘sausage tree’. It produces
fruits measuring 30-60 cm length
22. Madhuca indica Sapotaceae - Deciduous tree, copper coloured leaves at
spring, suitable as shade trees for high
ways.
23. Mimusops elengi Sapotaceae - Evergreen tree with dense dark green
shining foliage.
24. Polyalthia Anonaceae The Mast tree Slow growing ever green tree. Good avenue
longifolia tree for its graceful appearance.
25. Pongamia glabra Leguminosae Pungam Deciduous tree with glossy leaves. The trees
are with lilac coloured flowers. Suitable for
roadside avenues and railway platforms for
shade or ornamental purposes.
26. Putranjiva Euphorbiaceae Indian Amulet plant, Foliage is beautiful and gives the plant a
roxburghii wild live tree, child life weeping appearance.
tree
27. Ravenala Musaceae Travellers tree The tree collects clear watery sap in the leaf
madagascariensi stalk which is said to be utilized by thirsty
s travelers in the arid regions. The tree which
has a tall trunk resembling that of palm is
evergreen. Good specimen plant.
28. Samanea saman Leguminaceae Rain tree Large wide spreading tree propagated by
seed
29. Sesbania leguminosae Agathi Fast growing upright tree with white or pink
grandiflora flowers. Good screening plant.
30. Terminalia arjuna Combretaceae Evergreen shade tree suitable for road sides.
31. Terminalia Combretaceae Indian almond Good ornamental tree, the foliage turns
catappa reddish tint making the tree very
ornamental.
32. Thuja occidentalis Pinaceae - Main trunk is strongly buttressed and the
 branches and branch lets are densely and
horizontally arranged. The plant gets a
pyramidal shape and a rather compact head.
33. Swietenia Meliaceae Mahogani tree Evergreen good-looking tall tree with good
mahagoni shape and attractive foliage
34. Tectona grandis Verbenaceae Teak It is truly a grand and majestic tree with
large leaves

Fruit trees for avenues

S. Botanical name Family Common name Characters

No. and family
1. Averrhoa Oxalidaceae Carambola tree Medium sized tree and very
carambola ornamental
2. Eugenia jambolana Myrtaceae Jambolan Tall and spreading tree and
propagated through seeds
3. Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Amb
4. Phyllanthus Euphorbiaceae Amla Ornamental tree suitable road side
emblica planting
5. Tamarindus indica Leguminosae Tamarind Large tree suitable for road side
planting.

Flowering trees
S. Botanical name Family Common Flowering Flower Characters
No. and family name time colour
1. Amherstia nobilis Leguminosae Queen of February - Vermilion Medium sized spreading tree
flowering May coloured and young leaves remain
trees raceme with folded with purplish coppery
yellow flowers hue
2. Bauhinia purpurea Leguminosae Purple November Rosy purple Medium sized evergreen tree
bauhinia or or liliac or with clawed or pointed flowers
geranium tree deep pink which are large and showy
3. Bauhinia Leguminosae Thiruvatti Throughout Sulphur small trees, 2 to 3 m. height
tomentosa the year yellow flower
4. Butea monosperma Leguminosae Flame of the April - May Bright Small to medium sized untidy
forest flaming deciduous tree with crooked
scarlet trunks
coloured
flowers.
5. Callistemon Myrtaceae Bottle brush April-May Brilliant A small tree with narrow
lanceolatus tree and Aug- Crimson lanceolate leaves and weeping
Sept. Scarlet branches, propagated from
seeds or layers
6. Cassia fistula Leguminaceae Sarakonnai February – Bright yellow Medium size beautiful tree
or Golden May flower with long pendulous racemes,
shower propagated by seed and
 suckers
7. Cassia grandis Pink shower March – Rose, Spreading quick growing tree,
tree April pink colour pinnate leaves, pods are long
8. Cassia javanica Leguminaceae May- June Pink coloured Medium sized tree with
flowers spreading crown
9. Cassia nodosa Leguminaceae May - June Pink flowers Best flowering tree and tree
flowers in a leaf less condition.
10. Cassia siamea Leguminaceae Yellow Low growing tree
flowers
11. Cordia sebestena Boraginaceae Aloes wood or January - Bell shaped Dwarf deciduous tree.
scarlet cordia March orange or
scarlet
coloured
flowers
12. Couroupita Lecythidaceae Cannon ball Yellow flower Huge
guinensis tree with inner
side deep
pink with
shades of
white.
13. Erythrina indica Leguminaceae Kalyan March-May Scarlet red Propagated by seed and
Murungai or flowers cuttings
Indian coral
tree
14. Delonix regia Leguminaceae Gul Mohar April-May Orange Raised from seed
 scarlet
flowers
15. Calophyllum Guttiferae Pinnai May – June Fragrant A beautiful evergreen tree with
inophyllum white flowers large racemes, round fruits,
raised from seed.
16. Jacaranda Bignoniaceae March – Blue colour Deciduous often grows to 10
mimosaefolia May m. height, pretty foliage,
feathery
17. Lagerstroemia Lythraceae Pride of India Apr. – May Mauve A large deciduous tree, easily
flosreginae (Syn. Coloured propagated from seeds
L.speciosa flowers
18. Michelia champaca Leguminaceae Shembagam April-May Light yellow Seedling takes three years to
and Sept – whitish and bloom
October red flowers
19. Melia azedarach Meliaceae Persian Lilac March – Lilac flower Deciduous 15 to 20 feet
May height, bipinnate leaves small
heliotropic scented lilac
flowers in large panicle
20. Millingtonia Bignoniaceae Indian cork June – Nov. Fragrant pure A tall stately rapid growing
hortensis tree or tree with jasmine tree, propagated from seed or
jasmine like flowers by sucker
21. Parkia Leguminaceae Badminton April – May White flower Pretty foliage, pinnate leaves,
biglandulosa ball tree small white flowers with long
peduncle, propagation from
 seed
22. Peltophorum Leguminaceae Copper shield April – May Pale yellow Quick growing tree, fine
ferrugineum colour graceful feather foliage,
pinnate leaves, raised from
seed
23. Plumeria alba Apocynaceae Pagoda tree Throughout White colour Handsome trees with
or temple tree the year architectural shapes and
fragrant flowers. Evergreen
species gives waxy white
flowers throughout the year
24. Plumeria rubra Apocynaceae Pagoda tree Throughout Red colour Handsome trees with
or temple tree the year architectural shapes and
fragrant flowers. Evergreen
species gives waxy red flowers
throughout the year
25. Saraca indica True Asoka Feb – May Yellowish An indigenous evergreen, slow
Tree orange to growing, small tree,
orange propagated from seeds
scarlet
26. Spathodea Bignoniaceae Indian Tulip June – July Orange, Leaves are glossy and bright
campanulata Scarlet green raised from seed
flowers
27. Sesbania Leguminosae Sesban December Creamy white Quick growing small
grandiflora to January turns pink in ornamental tree, used as a
 the morning quick hedge and green manure
plant
28. Tabebuia rosea Bignoniaceae Pale mauve Good avenue tree
coloured
flowers
29. Tabebuia avalandi Bignoniaceae November Mauve Umbrella shaped tree and a
- January flowers good specimen tree for gardens
30. Thespesia Malvaceae Oil nut tree Throughout Bell shaped Suitable avenue tree and
populnea the year yellow colour provides sufficient shade.
with reddish Resistant to salt and a hardy
blotches plant

1. Name 5 tree species that can be planted as specimen trees in gardens.

2. Name 5 tree species that can be used as shady trees.
3. Name few species that can be used both as shade and flowering trees.
4. Name few tree species that are can be planted along road sides.
5. Name few tree species that can be used for screening purpose.
6. Name any three tree species that can give fragrant flowers.
7. Name few tree species that can be used for checking air pollution.
8. Name five tree species that can give edible fruits and can be used in landscaping.
9. Name 3 tree species that can be planted in inundated areas.
10. Name few indigenous flowering trees.
11.Name few tree species that can be planted in sodic soils.
12.Name few tree species that can be planted in arid and rocky situations.