1

HERITAGE TREES OF PARAMBIKULAM TIGER RESERVE

KANNIMARA TEAK, GIRTH: 7.02 M; HEIGHT: 39.98 M; AGE: 465 YEARS

The Teak tree in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is considered to be one of the Worlds Largest
Teak Trees with a girth of 7.02 metres and a height of about 39.98 metres. The age of the
tree has been assessed to be about 465 years. When it was tried to cut down the tree long
ago, blood oozed out from the cut point, it is said. From that time onwards, this tree is
considered to be sacred and worshipped by the local tribals. Because of this, the tree is
called as Virgin Tree since then. Kanni means Virgin. Thus the tree is given the name
Kanni Mara. This oldest, biggest and heritage teak tree is treated as the pride of the
reserve. This tree which is considered to be one of the natural and oldest teak trees in the
world was awarded Mahavriksha Puraskar by the Ministry of Forests and Environment
during 1994-95 for its giant size and ancientness.
 2

Mitragyna parvifolia (Nir-Kadambai in Tamil) with a girth of 4.02 m, height of 29 m and

assessed to be about 300 years found at Anapadi in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.

This belongs to the family Rubiaceae. The Trade name is Kaim. This is called Nir-kadambai
in Tamil; Vimba, Sira-kadamba or Kadamba in Malayalam; Nirkadambu, Battaganapy or
Botrugua in Telugu; Kongu or Nayekadambe in Kannada and Kadam in Hindi.

This is a large deciduous tree with irregularly shaped trunk. The base is fluted or buttressed.
This is found in dry deciduous forests of Circars, Deccan, Carnatic and West Coast and
evergreen forests (Sadivayal and Walayar). Found in Sri Lanka and Burma.

Flowers are creamy-white and fragrant. Capsule in globose heads.

Wood is used for building, furniture, combs, cots, utensils, turnery, etc.

In Siddha medical system, the stem, bark, leaf, fruit and seed are used for treating eye
diseases, dropsy, disease of vatam and urticaria.

In Ayurveda, the bark and fruit are used for treating burning sensation, poisoning, wounds,
gynaecological disorders, cough, oedema, alleviating kapha and pitta.
 3

Dalbergia latifolia (Rosewood) tree with a girth of 4 m and a height of 27 m assessed to be

about 200 years old found in Anapadi at Parambikulam Tiger Reserve of Kerala State

The Trade name is The Rosewood or Blackwood of Bombay. This is called Eetti, Irupottu
or Thothagathi in Tamil; Veetti or Karu-veetti in Malayalam; Jitegi, Virugudu or Chava
in Telugu; Bete or Karimbetti in Kannada and Sihasi in Hindi. This belongs to the family
Lotoideae. This is a large deciduous (nearly evergreen) tree with rounded crown. This is
found growing in areas with the annual rainfall of more than 1250 mm, mostly in Western
Ghats. This is an economically important timber species. The timber is one of the most
handsome of furniture woods, prized as veneer for panelling, ordnance work, etc. Under the
Indian Forest Act, 1927, the exportation of timber products from wild harvested Dalbergia
latifolia is illegal. There is an international high demand and price for the wood because of
its very fine qualities like is strength and high density. But, the tree is slow growing. This is
endemic in the forests of southern India especially in Tamil Nadu. The trees were cut
indiscriminately because of their high timber value. As a result the population of this
species was dwindling and now it has become an endangered, threatened and rare species
and there is possibility of the species becoming extinct. So in order to save this tree form
extinction, Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act was introduced in 1994
prohibiting felling, possession, transport and sale of Rosewood trees in the State.

V.Sundararaju, Former IFS Officer, SOFCON, Mail id: sundarifs.raju@gmail.com

www.sofcon.org

Tamil Nadu, India, Mobile: 9443170366

4