Endangered South American tree ‘staying’ on a college campus in Chennai

“A small evergreen tree native to South America, it is reported to have been introduced to our parts in the 16th century.  It “adoption” could have been the result of the ornamental value it brought to a landscape: it puts out striking bluish purple flowers that attract butterflies and has bright yellow-orange fruits. In Tamil, it is called seemai vairamaram,” says T.D. Babu, a member of the Chennai District Green Committee and a key member of tree conservation organisation Nizhal. Babu underlines its special features — “considered densest and water-proof, this tree’s has been used in ship building. Its resin and bark are said to have medicinal properties. These factors led to its commercial exploitation and dwindling numbers.” In light of the threat of extinction faced by this tree, one would expect more care to be given to the clutch of Roughbark lignum-vitae trees found in Chennai.  One of them has the Queen Mary’s College Campus for an address. Babu notes that the base of the tree has suffered damage, not natural but human-inflicted in the past. It also displays “wounds” further up its gnarled frame — an amputated branch. Babu wants the state of the tree’s precincts to reflect its preciousness. Currently, the earth it stands in is overrun with weeds.

Raccontata dathehindu.com