Birth-star trees

Each star and its tree

• Aswini Strychnine tree (Strychnos nux-vomica) The strychnine tree is a medium-sized tree of the warmer parts of India. Its bitter seeds are poisonous, so the fruit has to be handled with care.Tradition names the Strychnine tree as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.Birth-star temple: Thiruthuraipoondi Piravi Marundeeswarar Temple
• Bharani Indian gooseberry (amla) (Phyllanthus emblica) The gooseberry is a tree with small leaves and pale flowers. Its fruit is a familiar food and home remedy.Tradition names the Indian gooseberry (amla) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Karthigai Cluster fig (Ficus racemosa) The cluster fig is a tall tree found across India. Its figs grow in bunches on the branches and the trunk. Some lists write it as Ficus glomerata, an older name for the same tree.Tradition names the Cluster fig as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Rohini Java plum (jamun) (Syzygium cumini) The Java plum is a slow-growing, long-lived tree. Its dark purple fruit stains the tongue.Tradition names the Java plum (jamun) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Mirugasirisham Ebony (karungali) (Diospyros ebenum) Karungali is the ebony, a tree with black, iron-hard heartwood that is now rare. Its wood is prized for sturdy things such as the pounding pestle. One list also gives the cutch tree (Senegalia catechu) under the same name.Tradition names the Ebony (karungali) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Thiruvathirai Cutch tree (sengarungali) (Senegalia catechu) Sengarungali is a thorny tree with feathery leaflets and reddish-brown heartwood, widespread in the Indian subcontinent. Tamil Wikipedia identifies it as Senegalia catechu, the cutch tree. One list shortens it to "sengaru"; another gives red sanders or agarwood for this star.Tradition names the Cutch tree (sengarungali) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Punarpoosam Bamboo (Bambusa bambos) Bamboo is a giant grass, used for roofing, baskets and musical instruments.Tradition names the Bamboo as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Poosam Sacred fig (peepal) (Ficus religiosa) The peepal is long-lived, and its heart-shaped leaves flutter in the faintest breeze.Tradition names the Sacred fig (peepal) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Ayilyam Beauty-leaf tree (punnai) (Calophyllum inophyllum) Punnai is a medium-sized tree of coastal areas, with thick glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. One list also names the Ceylon ironwood (Mesua ferrea).Tradition names the Beauty-leaf tree (punnai) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Magam Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) The banyan spreads wide as its hanging roots reach the ground and take hold.Tradition names the Banyan as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Pooram Flame of the forest (palash) (Butea monosperma) Palash is a deciduous tree that thrives even in dry land. In flower, the whole tree is covered in orange-red blooms. Two Tamil lists write it as "pala"; the jackfruit tree comes separately under Uthiradam.Tradition names the Flame of the forest (palash) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Uthiram Oleander (arali) (Nerium oleander) Oleander is a flowering shrub with pink and white blooms. Its milky sap is poisonous, so it needs care. One list also gives itti, a wild fig (Ficus arnottiana).Tradition names the Oleander (arali) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Hastham Babul (velam) (Vachellia nilotica) Velam (karuvelam) is a thorny tree native to Tamil Nadu, with round yellow flower-heads. It is not the same as the introduced "seemai karuvelam" (mesquite). Two Tamil lists give "athi" for Hastham instead.Tradition names the Babul (velam) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Chithirai Bael (Aegle marmelos) Bael is a thorny, aromatic deciduous tree whose three-part leaves are central to the worship of Shiva.Tradition names the Bael as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Swathi Arjuna tree (neermaruthu) (Terminalia arjuna) The arjuna is a tall tree of river banks, known by its smooth, pale bark.Tradition names the Arjuna tree (neermaruthu) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Visakam Wood apple (Limonia acidissima) The wood apple bears a hard-shelled fruit with a tangy-sweet pulp, and grows widely in southern India. One list also names the Ceylon ironwood (Mesua ferrea).Tradition names the Wood apple as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Anusham Spanish cherry (magizham) (Mimusops elengi) Magizham is an evergreen tree with small, star-shaped, fragrant flowers.Tradition names the Spanish cherry (magizham) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Kettai Sandpaper tree (piraai) (Streblus asper) Piraai is a tree of scrub forest with rough, dark green leaves and pale wood. It is also called kuttippala, and it is the sacred tree of the Thirupparaithurai temple. One list gives the vetti tree (Aporosa cardiosperma) instead.Tradition names the Sandpaper tree (piraai) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Moolam Mango (Mangifera indica) The mango is an evergreen tree grown in every part of Tamil Nadu. Two Tamil lists give "mara" (maramaram) for Moolam without saying which tree that is. Another list also names trees such as sal (Shorea robusta).Tradition names the Mango as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Pooradam Indian willow (vanji) (Salix tetrasperma) Vanji is a medium-sized tree of riverbanks. One list also names a rattan (Calamus pseudotenuis).Tradition names the Indian willow (vanji) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Uthiradam Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) The jackfruit is an evergreen tree bearing very large, spiny fruit.Tradition names the Jackfruit as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Thiruvonam Giant milkweed (erukku) (Calotropis gigantea) Erukku is a hardy shrub of dry land with white or purple flowers and a milky sap.Tradition names the Giant milkweed (erukku) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Avittam Khejri (vanni) (Prosopis cineraria) Vanni is a thorny tree that grows even in dry regions. One list also gives the drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera).Tradition names the Khejri (vanni) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Sadayam Kadamba (Neolamarckia cadamba) The kadamba grows very tall with an umbrella-shaped crown and round, fragrant flower-heads.Tradition names the Kadamba as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Poorattathi Thema (thembavu) (Gluta travancorica) All three Tamil lists give "thema" for Poorattathi. The Wikipedia table identifies it as thembavu (Gluta travancorica), a tall tree found only in the wet evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats. The same table also gives the name karumaruthu alongside it.Tradition names the Thema (thembavu) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Uthirattathi Neem (Azadirachta indica) Neem is an evergreen tree with dense shade and bitter leaves. One list gives the talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) instead.Tradition names the Neem as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.
• Revathi Mahua (illuppai) (Madhuca longifolia) Mahua is a medium-sized deciduous tree.Tradition names the Mahua (illuppai) as the tree of this birth star. Those born under it plant one, tend it with care and honour it. Some temples, such as Kuttralam, keep a grove of all 27 star trees.