Plumeria, Frangipani - चम्पा

Its tree is also called "Temple Tree"

Plumeria, Frangipani - चम्पा

                 This is a well known flower of worship in India and South-East Asia. Often planted near Aashrams  and temples, hence also called "Temple tree". Known commonly as "Champa - चम्पा" in Hindi or "Kath Champa" in Bengali, it is called Plumeria and Frangipani in English.

              The tree of this fragrant and beautiful flower is also planted in flower gardens, parks and street sides. Though it grows in a tree but a closer look will tell that this plant is related to "Nerium Oleander". The structure of flowers and leaves are similar. On plucking the leaves both ooz out white milk like substance. The difference is in size of the plant and leaves. While plant of  "Nerium Oleander" is a shrub, the Plumeria or frangipani is a tree. The leaves of   "Nerium Oleander" are less wider than Plumeria . 

 

Leaves and flowers of
Plumeria, Frangipani - चम्पा

           The whole dark green canopy of tree dotted with flowers look attractive. Every day flowers fall from the tree and place beneath the tree full of scattered flowers look awesome. The lovely fragrance remains there for many days even if they dry out. The cream colored flower with yellow area in the middle is loved by ladies living in forest areas. They put them around the neck as a garland or make their hairs up with flowers (In veni). It is the national flower of Laos. It is found in other colors too, like pink and white.

             The "Champa - चम्पा"' flowers are used in worship of Vishnu and his avatars and goddesses like Saraswati, Laksmi and Durga. In different societies it is used in different ways. In Bengali culture due to its white color it is used as a mourning flower and put on the dead body or near the photo of dead person. In some rural areas people believe that ghosts live on "Champa - चम्पा"' trees. Not only in Bengal but in some other European countries people relate its fragrance to vampires and plant it near the graves in cemeteries. 

A fully grown up "Plumeria, Frangipani - चम्पा" tree

           On the other hand this flower is used for decoration on the occasion of weddings or parties in Maharashtra and as "Varmala वरमाला" in South India. In some folklore it is not offered to Shiva due a curse by brahmin, but as I have stated in my previous blogs that "Aadishankarachrya" in the "Shiva_Manas_Puja (शिव मानस पूजा)" offers champaka flower to Shiva. So it may be offered to Shiva too. 

               The plant can be propagated through cutting. About eight inch long finger thick stems without leaves are inserted in the well drained soil. It requires moisture but not water logging. It is also not suitable for frosty climate because is can not bear very cold weather. The water requirement is proportional to available sunshine. 

                   Its fragrance is used as perfumes and incense sticks. The lovely fragrance of this incense stick makes the environment divine.

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Here is a view of above tree in the season of Spring. It is covered with beautiful flowers and the look is eye-catching. In this picture below there is also a smaller tree in the foreground that too is at full bloom:-

Flowering Champa Trees

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