the tree, that is often referred to as the golden shower tree is
Answers
Answer:
Urban Biodiversity Series
Explanation:
Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina), on the other hand, lurk around the flowers for a different reward. They use the blossoms as hunting platforms to prey on unsuspecting pollinators that visit the flowers. Another interesting association is one that involves male Oriental Fruit Flies (Bactrocera dorsalis) that come to feed on the flowers. Methyl eugenol (a chemical with a clove-like odour) present in the flowers is thought to play a role in synthesising pheromones, used to attract mates in these fruit flies.
Although the flowers are the star attractions, the leaves support a community of their own. Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bats (Cynopterus sphinx) consume the leaves of the Golden Shower Tree, which are rich in protein and calcium. Butterflies like Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe), Common Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona) and Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe), belonging to the family Pieridae, lay eggs on the leaves of C. fistula. The leaves are later chomped upon by the caterpillars that emerge from the eggs.
The Golden Shower Tree has diverse associations within varied cultures and belief systems. In India, the flower blossoms are used as offerings to Lord Vishnu. C. fistula has been protected and worshipped as a sacred tree (called Sthala Vriksha) and conserved in sacred groves in southern India. In Kerala, it is believed that the monsoon arrives 45 days after the first profuse flowering of C. fistula.
The tree holds significance in other countries too. In Laos, the flowers form an integral part of New Year celebrations. In Thailand, the yellow blossoms are considered to represent the royal family.
It is truly one of the joys of summer to watch these unassuming trees burst into showers of warmth when they blossom. So the next time you walk past a Cassia fistula tree, we hope you’ll look up, take a moment to appreciate its aesthetics, and remember its ecological and cultural associations.