Udal: Lays a carpet of flowers on the road
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Photo: Barta24.com
A medium-sized tree that fascinates with its bold, golden yellow beauty. Only golden yellow flowers are found throughout the entire plant on the leafy umbilical body. In spring, yellow petals fall and carpet the streets. Another beauty of nature is Udal tree and its flowers.
Udal is our native plant. Although their favorite habitat is the hilly area, earlier they were seen more or less all over the country. Due to indiscriminate cutting down of trees, this native tree is endangered along with other trees. Udal can be seen in many places in the plain including Mirpur National Park in Dhaka, Botanical Garden of Dhaka University, Bangla Academy, Ramna Park in Dhaka, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Park on Brahmaputra Bank in Mymensingh. Chattogram, Chattogram Hill Tracts, especially in mixed evergreen forests of Bandarban and Cox's Bazar, and in damp areas of deciduous Salbans in Gazipur, Mymensingh and Tangail.
The scientific name of Udal is Sterculia velosa. In English it is called hairy sterculia or elephant rope tree. A high quality fiber is obtained from the bark of this tree. It is also named in English because ropes for tying elephants were made with these fibers. It is also locally known as Chandul in our country. This plant is known as phew ban by the Mughs and Marmads, umak by the Garos and nam singh by the Mrods.
Udal grows to 20 meters or more in length. Their bark is white in color. Their leaf blades are long, the blades are large and the leaves are grooved, the leaves are concentrated at the front of the leaf branches. Flowers golden yellow, purple inside. Its fruit is green when raw but turns dark red when ripe. The seed color is black. The seeds are a favorite food of squirrels because they taste like nuts. But people also eat its fruits. Fiber is obtained from the bark. Rope is made from this fiber. The wood is brown in color, usually soft and light. Tea boxes are made from the wood of this tree.
Professor of Botany Department of Dhaka University Mohammad Jasimuddin told Barta24.com that this tree was abundant in the forests of the country. Syrup is made from the leaves of this plant. Larger trees are cut down as it is difficult to collect leaf buds from tall trees. After that many new branches grow from its base and leaf tips are collected from there. A transparent gum is also obtained from the Udal tree which is used in various works including confectionery.
He also said that this plant is currently an endangered species. Last year, the plant science department of Dhaka University distributed three hundred Udal tree seedlings to various schools and colleges. This time also about five hundred saplings will be distributed.
Dr. Jasim said, drinking Udal bark syrup keeps the body cool. Squeezing the stem of the flower and making syrup with sugar in water relieves urinary problems and rheumatic pain. But experts should be consulted before eating.
ACF Tabibur Rahman of Rangamati Forest Division said that the taste of Udal seeds is very much like almonds, so squirrels like them very much. However, this seed is also eaten by humans.
He also said that according to Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, 2012, Udal has been identified as a listed plant of 'critically endangered' species in Bangladesh.
