Not everyone knows that there is a tree that matches one's own character,
personality, moods and outlook. Organic eco-horticulturist and landscape
specialist S.Krishnamurthy has been putting together resources on Star Trees to
help people recognise their own special tree species. He offers his services to
source saplings of these species, some of them hard to find in the neighbourhood
plant nursery, and to plant and nurture them in and around Chennai, India.
Krishnamurthy is a familiar face among rainwater harvesting activists of the city. He undertook RWH activity on contract for several residential buildings and a few industries, with sufficient impact to be interviewed by Sun TV and others.
Today, he is combining his passionate pursuit of rainwater harvesting with tree planting and landscaping, creating a unique sustainability concept and a good practice that is worthy of emulation in other cities and towns. His fond hope is to attract schools, colleges and other institutions, to make their vacant lands available for tree planting. The species of trees, as one finds from the list, are such that most cannot be accommodated in the average home garden. At least three of the Star Trees belong to families known to reach heights of 100 odd feet over a 40 year time span.
There is some evidence that planting of traditional tree species got an impetus in Gujarat, India, when their association with sun signs were highlighted to people. They wholeheartedly took up planting of trees and the Forest Department of Gujarat reports (read the report on Ananova) that this has helped increase the green cover in that State significantly.
The concept of Star Trees also blends well with the traditional Sthala Vriksha concept in Tamil Nadu. For centuries, the temples of Tamil Nadu have played an environmentally important role, by providing a source of water harvested in the temple tanks, and by fostering the Sthala Vriksha which translates into a tree associated with that shrine. This concept has enabled key species such as Ficus benghalensis and F.religiosa to take root, literally in the landscape with excellent results for those living in the vicinity.
Courtesy: http://www.oocities.org/indianliving/startrees.htm
Krishnamurthy is a familiar face among rainwater harvesting activists of the city. He undertook RWH activity on contract for several residential buildings and a few industries, with sufficient impact to be interviewed by Sun TV and others.
Today, he is combining his passionate pursuit of rainwater harvesting with tree planting and landscaping, creating a unique sustainability concept and a good practice that is worthy of emulation in other cities and towns. His fond hope is to attract schools, colleges and other institutions, to make their vacant lands available for tree planting. The species of trees, as one finds from the list, are such that most cannot be accommodated in the average home garden. At least three of the Star Trees belong to families known to reach heights of 100 odd feet over a 40 year time span.
There is some evidence that planting of traditional tree species got an impetus in Gujarat, India, when their association with sun signs were highlighted to people. They wholeheartedly took up planting of trees and the Forest Department of Gujarat reports (read the report on Ananova) that this has helped increase the green cover in that State significantly.
The concept of Star Trees also blends well with the traditional Sthala Vriksha concept in Tamil Nadu. For centuries, the temples of Tamil Nadu have played an environmentally important role, by providing a source of water harvested in the temple tanks, and by fostering the Sthala Vriksha which translates into a tree associated with that shrine. This concept has enabled key species such as Ficus benghalensis and F.religiosa to take root, literally in the landscape with excellent results for those living in the vicinity.
Here are the 27 Stars and Trees
| Star | Common Name | Tamil Name |
| Aswini | Strychnine | Etti |
| Bharani | Indian Gooseberry | Perunelli |
| Karthikai | Country Fig | Atthi |
| Rohini | Jamun | Naval |
| Mrigaseerisham | Milmesha | Karungali |
| Thiruvathirai | Long Pepper | Thippili |
| Punarpusam | Bambusa | Moongil |
| Pusam | Peepal | Arasamaram |
| Ayilyam | Alexandrian Laurel | Punnai |
| Maham | Banyan | Alamaram |
| Pooram | Flame of the Forest | Palasu |
| Uthram | Rose Laurel | Arali |
| Astham | Hog Plum | Kaatuma |
| Chithirai | Bengal Quince | Vilvam |
| Swathi | Queen's Flower | Marutham |
| Visakam | Wood Apple | Vila |
| Anusham | Mimusops | Mahizham |
| Kettai | Stunted Jack | Kuttipala |
| Moolam | Hardwickia | Acha |
| Pooradam | Tinospora | Vanchikodi |
| Uthradam | Jackfruit | Pala |
| Thiruvonam | Swallow Wort | Erukku |
| Avittam | Indian Mesquit | Vanni |
| Sathayam | Indian Oak | Kadambu |
| Pururattathi | Mango | Mamaram |
| Uthirattathi | Neem | Vempu |
| Revathi | Madhuca | Iluppai |
Courtesy: http://www.oocities.org/indianliving/startrees.htm
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