My Signature Plant: The Indian Blackberry

Tina of In the Garden started the 'Signature Plant' series.
Ever since I read that wonderful post it's been on my
mind. After much vacillation between this, that and the
other, I've settled for the Indian Blackberry. Also known
as the Java Plum, black plum, and jambul, it's botanical
name is Syzigium cumini or Eugenia jambolana. It's a common
tree in Asia and native to India, Indonesia and Pakistan. In
my region we call it jam (rhymes with 'calm'). It's commonly
known as jamun in many parts of India.

But before I go into why I've chosen this plant, let's take
a look at it. This is the oldest tree in my garden. All of 14!
Its height is roughly 16ft now but the tree can reach 30mtrs
and live to a hundred years. The wood is used for making
railway sleepers and furniture. The seeds, leaves and bark
have been attributed with many medicinal properties.

By March/April the tree is covered with cream-coloured feathery
blooms.

By June the berries begin to ripen. It's an attractive sight--
green and purple together. And the birds come in flocks...
By July end, and in some cases, till August, the berries remain.

By early November, the leaves turn yellow and start to fall.
A closer look reveals tiny red blotches and on that bright
yellow. In this photo, the fallen leaf has become a refuge
for a dying bee.

On a December morning...the tree never becomes totally bare. I've
read that in dry areas all the leaves fall but here on clayey,
wet ground, it doesn't get any chance!

This is a tree that does not need much care. Growing next to
the wall and the power line, I keep it severely pruned. That's
on the western side. Towards the east I keep no check on its
growth. Our area gets flooded every summer and the water remains
for days. Every year I hope and pray that it survives the rains
and our city's bad drainage. It's still going strong. (Touch wood!)
And when the leaves fall, they go into a bin that I keep next
to the tree. Then months later, the leaf mould goes back into
the soil. Just as I take care of my plants, I feel that in the
same way, the tree's connection to its immediate surroundings
is total. And for all these reasons I've chosen the Indian
Blackberry as my Signature Plant.

And since I recently got pictures of my tree's source, I
thought I'd include them as well. The old tree in my mother's
garden, the one with tree-ferns and other epiphytes. I got the
sapling under this tree when my younger son was a a month old.
I brought the plant to Guwahati in a milk carton!

Old trees have so much character. More tree embellishment here.
The same tree has quite a few ants' nests. They look as if the
leaves are stitched together into basket shapes. This picture
is a little blurry.

Thank you Tina for starting the series. I loved posting this.
Of course I had to keep a check on myself...the tendency to
go on and on.....!!