Coppersmiths in Cannonball Tree

This collage combines a favourite tree of mine the cannon ball tree with the beautiful copper-smith barbet that is perfectly camouflaged among the flowers! 

 

Title : Coppersmiths in Cannonball Tree
Size :  11"x 17" 

Allow me to introduce the copper-smith barbet.  This delightful little bird flits from branch to branch and is always a challenge to spot as it moves so fast! Green and yellow with crimson red on throat and head, black lines on its back and near its eyes, it flits about quickly  calling out to its mates.  And it has the most impossible sounding birdsong. Those unfamiliar may not even realise that it is this tiny bird calling.  It does not move its beak. The sound emanates from its tiny throat and it is loud and metallic. Rhythmic too.  It is the sound of a hammer hitting metal, hence the name – copper-smith.  And when it calls in quick succession and two or more join in, it can get noisy!!  But it is such a happy noise.

Here is the most exotic tree of all. It does not have leaves and flowers on the same branches.   The leaves grow on the big branches like other normal trees.  The flowers grow on branches that only come out of the central trunk and the fruits are found on these as well.

Its called the ‘’Naga linga Pushpam’ in Tamil (Naga being cobra, Linga being God Shiva and pushpam being flower).  In South India and Sri Lanka, the flowers have a religious significance due to their centre being shaped like a serpent hood over a shiva-linga and so are usually found in temple courtyards.  

This flower has the most heavenly scent richer than any other tropical flower in my opinion. These large blooms are such a pretty peach and pink colour with the beautiful white and yellow centres.  So heady is the fragrance of these flowers that your nose could probably lead you to the tree in any garden even with your eyes closed.  The fruits can get as large as small melons and are round and woody on the outside.  It’s due to this shape it came to be given the name ‘cannon ball’ in English. 

I so love this tree that when I find one it’s very hard for me to walk away.  Inevitably, I return with a whole lot of flowers that drop down from the tree and preserve them for the longest possible time to enjoy their fragrance.