Kolkata, West Bengal
What else could the flower be named? It looks exactly like a brush used for cleaning bottles. And indeed, the flower’s English name is “Bottlebrush” (Bottlebrush plants, scientific name Callistemon spp.).
Does it have a Bengali name? No. How could it? It’s not a flower native to Bengal. It’s a foreign flower. Even the tree it grows on is called the Bottlebrush tree. That is, the bright red flower hangs from the Bottlebrush tree. This tree belongs to the Myrtaceae family, and its original home is Australia. It can also be found in a few other countries.
So why did I suddenly start talking about a foreign tree when there are so many local trees and flowers in the country? There’s a reason. This foreign tree has been adopted by our land. I saw this tree (and its flower) here, in Bengal. While traveling in Bolpur, Santiniketan, how could I return empty-handed? I brought the tree back captured through my camera lens.
Photo – Dr. Soumitra Chowdhury
A sturdy tree, about fifteen to twenty feet tall, bearing red flowers. Some other trees of this family have yellow flowers. The plant is quite useful. The leaves are used to treat kidney-related diseases. In many countries, it’s used to aid digestion. In the Australian continent, it’s even used in energy drinks.
Where did I see this tree in Bengal? Let me tell you specifically, this time in Bolpur, Birbhum district. Right at the entrance of the Deer Park next to Santiniketan. There, written in Bengali on the tree itself: “Bottlebrush.” And yes, you can catch it in bloom around March and April.
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