In Pictures: Yellow, Red Palas Trees Bloom In Nashik's Mamdapur-Rajapur Sanctuary

The Mamdapur forest reserve area in Yeola taluka is flourishing with yellow and red Palas trees alongside the famed blackbucks

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Amidst the celebration of the spring festival and Holi, the Flame of the Forest, the Palas tree, has adorned various parts of the sanctuary, captivating visitors with its vibrant blooms

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Of particular fascination is the rare Yellow Palas tree, drawing attention to the Mamdapur-Rajapur forest reserve

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Also known as Butea Monosperma or Flame of the Forest, this medium-sized tree native to India boasts a distinctive appearance characterized by its grey bark, irregular branches, and crooked trunk

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Its pinnate leaves, famously referred to in the Hindi saying 'dhaak ke teen paat,' consist of three leaflets each

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Typically, the Yellow Palas tree remains devoid of flowers until January, with its leaves shedding only thereafter

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However, from January to March, it undergoes a stunning transformation as it becomes adorned with clusters of orange-vermilion flowers

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These flowers, with their five petals and beak-shaped keel, attract birds, which serve as the primary pollinators

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The flowering of the yellow Palas tree, also known as the Tree of the Flame, adds to the biodiversity and visual allure of the Mamdapur-Rajapur sanctuary

Tejal Ghorpade