The far end of our garden houses a strange tree I haven’t seen anywhere. It is still about 5-6 feet tall and has all the signs of growing into a huge tree. The edges of the twigs are crowded with dark green leaves. But that is not what is striking about this tree. The ventral side of the leaf is gold. True, shiny gold. From the trunk hang small roots like that of a banyan tree. This tree was planted from a seed of a strange fruit we received from a friend some ten years back. It was a dark purple, round fruit with a white fleshy inside with light brown seeds. It looks like mangosteen with a shiny peel. But unlike Mangosteen, the taste was milky and sweet.
We planted several of those seeds and they grew into plants with pretty gold leaves. Since then every day I watched her grow. I am not much into gardening but watching this strange plant grow brought happiness. As this tree grew taller and stronger, for years, I expected to see a sign of her bearing fruits. But every day the tree disappointed me. There were only lush green leaves but not a single flower. But a few days ago I found her in flowers. Tiny bunches of flowers hung from every twig.
This is a Star apple tree (Buchanania angustifolia/ Kiripalu/ කිරිපලු). Not very common but famous. This tree has been mentioned in Buddhism more than in any other literature. According to Buddhist history Lord Padumuttara Buddha, the 13th known Buddha, attained enlightenment under one of these trees hence known as one of the 22 Bodhi trees (sacred trees). Also, there are accounts of these fruits being offered to Lord Gauthama Buddha. According to folklore, Kiripalu tree had been brought to Sri Lanka by God Suman Saman all the way from Seweth Nuwara, Dewram Vehera to provide shelter to Lord Buddha during his second visit to Sri Lanka.
The Star apple tree is beautiful. I am glad that I had the chance of experiencing its unique taste and most of all to have this tree in our garden and witness how she grows and gets ready to bear fruits. This is her first bloom. With the pelting rain of early September, I cannot predict the outcome. But I wait in anticipation to see a purple, ripe, and round, shiny fruit dangling from the branches in the coming months.