Lagerstroemia speciosa

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Dicotyledonae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Lythraceae
Genus: Lagerstroemia
Species: L.speciosa
Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia speciosa(L.)Pers.

Common names
English : Queens flower, queen crape, myrtle, Banaba plant or Pride of India.
Hindi: Jarul, Arjuna, challa, ajhar.
Marathi: Jarul Taman.

Discription

1. Habit and Habitat: A small tree. Terrestrial habitat.
2. Distribution: Indian subcontinent, Sourthen China, Indochina, Indonesia, Phillippines, Malaysia.
3. Morphology:
   Leaf: Opposite, oblong, lanceolate or elliptic, subacute, base acute or riunded, coriaceous.
   Inflorescence: Panicle infloroscence.
   Flowers: Blue, very beautiful, in large panicles of many flowers, pedicles stout, hairy. Calyx tubular, hairs white, ribbrd with 12-14 stout ridges. Petals 6, purple, roundovate, clawed, much wavy and crumplrd, spreading.
   Androecium: Stamens many, purple, inserted near the bottom of the calyx-tube much exserted.
   Gynoecium: Ovary 3-6 celled, superior, sessile, ovules many, placenta axile, style long bent, stigma capitate.
   Fruit: capsules with loculicdal dehiscence.
   Seeds: seeds many, winged at apex.
   Flowering and Fruiting time: April-July.
4. Propagation: By seed, Stem cutting.
5. Importance:
   Cultivated in gardens and planted on the road sides, the seed are narcotic. The plant is one of the most important timber trees of India.
6. Location: