The Indian Subcontinent provides suitable conditions for the growth and development of various kinds of trees. Evergreen trees are no exception in this regard. These trees have foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year. Various types of evergreen trees have been recorded in India. These trees are described below.
Jack Fruit Tree
Jack Fruit Tree is cultivated at low elevations throughout India and is believed to be indigenous to the rainforests of the Western Ghats. It is considered to be one of the most popular and most important fruit of India. This large and evergreen tree has dark green, glossy, oblong and deeply lobed or leathery leaves. Tiny male flowers are borne in oblong clusters, whereas the female flowers have elliptic or rounded clusters. Jack fruit developed on this tree is the largest of all tree-borne fruits in the world. The ripe fruit appears green or yellow. It has numerous hard, cone-like points attached to a thick, rubbery, and pale yellow or whitish wall.
Alexandrian Laurel
Alexandrian Laurel is native to southern coastal India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This tree is characterized by a broad and irregular crown. Usually there are two distinct flowering periods, that is, late spring and late autumn. The fruit of the tree is round, green drupe and has a single large seed. The ripe fruit exhibits variance in color, from yellow to brownish-red and is wrinkled. Alexandrian Laurel is a low-branching and slow-growing tree, attaining a height of about 8 to 20 m.
Sapodilla
Sapodilla is an evergreen tree, which has green and glossy leaves. This tree has white colored and bell shape flowers. The fruit of the tree can be described as large and elliptical shaped. The flesh of the fruit is pale yellow to brown colored with a grainy texture. The bark of the tree has white and gummy latex.
Blackboard Tree
Blackboard Tree is native to the Indian Subcontinent. This evergreen tropical tree has leaves which are glossy on the upper side and grayish on the underside. The cymes are known to be dense and pubescent. Pedicels are usually as long as or shorter than calyx. The corolla is white and tube-like and the lobes are broadly ovate or broadly obovate. The ovaries are distinct and pubescent. The follicles are distinct and linear. This tree has a grayish colored mature bark. The tree attains a height of about 40 m.
Other Evergreen Trees in India
Guava Trees and Kanara Nutmeg are the other evergreen trees in India.
