Tree for id (Crocodile Bank, Chennai) : 11 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (5).
Can someone please help with the id of this tree.
The tree seems to be having peltate leaves. Just a guess, can it be related Macaranga peltata.
I do not think it could be found wild in Madras. May be it is planted or it could be something else
Thank you … I will try to get a leaf and feel the texture and if possible take measurements to check if it matches with the M peltata. You are right this tree is planted here. I work at Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and lot of trees have been planted here some 37 years ago by famous herpetologist Mr. Rom Whitaker and his friends. During that time he had got saplings from every where, from western ghats to Anadaman islands and I also think that some may be even brought from S.E Asian countries. The leaves indeed look like a Macaranga. However I am unable to confirm a sterile material It was a pleasure being with you on the field and thank you for all the tips on botany. I hope our paths cross again in the near future.
Here are the pictures of the leaf of that tree which most of you think is macaranga species. The texture of the leaf is smooth and so are the edges. The tip of the leaf is not as elongated as that of a peepal leaf.
The macaranga species that … and I saw at Valparai is different that the one at croc bank. The last two pictures are of the macaranga species (either peltata or indica) from Valparai area.
After seeing all five photos, I am now sure that the last two leaves belong to Macaranga. But now I have doubts about the first three photos.
Out of the 5 pictures, the first 3 pics are that of the Tree at Croc Bank (Chennai) which we earlier thought it to be from Genus Macaranga but they are not. The petiole, the bark and the arrangement of the leaves on the tree do not match with that of Macaranga sp.
The last two pictures are definetly from Genus Macaranga (this is confirmed by botanists present on the field with us in Valparai). The petiole is absent because Nilgiri langurs are known to eat only the petioles of Macaranga, and discard the leaves.
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