Pride Of India

Lagerstroemia speciosa, called giant crepe-myrtle, queen's crepe-myrtle, banabá plant, pride of India or queen's flower, is a deciduous tree native to tropical South Asia, South-East Asia and Melanesia. It grows up to 15 metres tall with a symmetrical crown and smooth, flaky light grey or cream bark. The flowers are bright pink to light purple, borne in profusion and lasting many months, and the timber is described as next only to teak in strength. The fruits are woody capsules that turn from green to brown and finally black. The page says the seeds are narcotic, the bark and leaves purgative, the roots astringent, and that a decoction of leaves is used in diabetes. In Hindu mythology, worshipping Brahma is said to make the flowers blossom and bring prosperity to the house. In Theravada Buddhism the plant is said to have been the tree of enlightenment for the eleventh and twelfth Buddhas.