It was on an evening in the 3rd week of October 2010, a exotic scent greeted us at India International Centre. New Delhi. It led us to a tree inside the premises - the source of the fragrance.
The tree was full of small greenish white flowers. The small display board put up near the tree by the management, gave some information about the tree.
The tree is known as ' ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS' named after Scottish botanist C. Alston.
Scholaris means ' belonging to schools'. In the olden days, the wood of this tree was used for making the frames of school slates. Hence it is commonly known as 'scholar tree' .
Flowering during winter seasons, and small greenish white flowers are scented and fill the night air with fragrance.
I have also found such trees in many areas of Delhi and also in our apartment. I have enjoyed the exotic fragrance all through October during my evening walk.. But I am missing it now in this November month. Here are few picture of the tree.
