- A century-old Indian siris tree, a notable landmark in Kumaradevam, East Godavari district, collapsed. It had been an integral part of the local landscape and community life.
- The tree fell due to the soil beneath it giving way, a consequence of the heavy flow of floodwater into the Godavari River.
- Albizia lebbeck, also known as Indian siris, is a large deciduous tree growing up to 30 meters in height.
- It belongs to the Fabaceae family.
- It produces white, heavily scented flowers, with mature pods remaining on the tree for long periods.
- The tree has a wide native distribution across the Indian subcontinent, from Pakistan to Myanmar.
- Albizia lebbeck is widespread and its population is presumed to be large and stable, classified as Least Concern under the IUCN Red Data book.
- Albizia lebbeck is ecologically dominant and invasive in many tropical regions.
- Valuable in agroforestry for nitrogen fixing, pasture improvement, and livestock shade and forage.
- Its decorative wood is used for furniture, construction, and fuel.
- The bark is used in tanning and traditional medicine for boils, diarrhoea, and eye conditions.
Dig Deeper: Read about various tree species like Indian Siris which have unique cultural as well as conservation significance.
