From its peculiar habit, ''Duabanga grandiflora'' (syn. ''D. sonneratioides'') is a singular feature in its native forests. The trunk is erect, 40–80 feet high, undivided but sometimes forking from the base. The lower limbs spread drooping from the trunk; these are long, slender, sparingly branched, and the branches are four-angled, loosely covered with large spreading leaves. Since the leaves are arranged in two ranks, the slender branches resemble petioles, bearing

pinnae The auricle or auricula is the visible part of the ear that is outside the head. It is also called the pinna (Latin for "wing" or " fin", plural pinnae), a term that is used more in zoology. Structure The diagram shows the shape and location ...

of a compound leaf; the leaves are further often recurved, and are deep green above, and almost white beneath. The large blossoms expand in April, exhaling a rank odour reportedly resembling

asafoetida Asafoetida (; also spelled asafetida) is the dried latex ( gum oleoresin) exuded from the rhizome or tap root of several species of ''Ferula'', perennial herbs growing tall. They are part of the celery family, Umbelliferae. Asafoetida is th ...

when they first burst, but they become inodorous before the petals drop. The stamens are all bent inwards in bud. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...

is a large as a small

apple An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, ' ...

. The wood is white and soft.

Distribution

Native to India, Nepal, southern China, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Gallery

File:Duabanga sonneratioides syn Duabanga grandiflora flowers at Jayanti, Duars, West Bengal W Picture 217.jpg, Flowers at Jayanti in

Buxa Tiger Reserve , photo = Buxa Tiger Reserve forest 2014.jpg , iucn_category = II , map = India West Bengal , map_width = , label = Buxa NP , label_position = right , location = West Bengal, India , nearest_city = Alipurduar , coordinates = , area_km ...

Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Jalpaiguri district as well as of the Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal, covering the jurisdiction of the five districts of North Bengal. The city is loca ...

district of

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...

, India File:Duabanga sonneratioides syn Duabanga grandiflora middle story at Jayanti, Duars, West Bengal W Picture 221.jpg, Middle story at Jayanti File:Duabanga sonneratioides syn Duabanga grandiflora at Jayanti, Duars, West Bengal W Picture 218.jpg, At Jayanti File:Duabanga sonneratioides syn Duabanga grandiflora leaves at Jayanti, Duars, West Bengal W Picture 220.jpg, Leaves at Jayanti

References

* grandiflora Trees of the Indian subcontinent Trees of Indo-China Trees of Peninsular Malaysia {{Myrtales-stub