Butterfly pea tree Tamil name: Mara shankapushpam
This is an exotic tree of tropical South American origin and grows to around 4 to 5 meters in height. It forms a round canopy above and branches tend to droop down almost to ground level. The plant is mostly glabrous with pinnate leafs. The leaflets are large oval in shape with an acute tip. The inflorescence is in the form of a panicle. The flowers have a graceful fragrance, large, showy in purple color. The flowers are bisexual, pea shaped. The raceme stalk has a light yellow color. A beautiful tree although an “exotic”.
