The Pithecellobium dulce - கொடுக்காய்ப் புளி - 'Madras Thorn' seen at Kampong Kapor Road, Singapore. This tree was widely planted in Singapore during the sixties for its evergreen bushy crown, then gave up its space to other trees as its seedlings tend to get weedy.
The dry, thorny twigs, that fall off, never failed to pierce the feet of some causal walkers if not cleared soon. The tree was seen to attract some moths in large numbers, whose caterpillars, big and 'scary', but harmless tend to wriggle their way into homes being a nuisance.
If you saw a few worms on your bed in the morning, some squashed, then you can be sure that those large trees nearby were the Madras Thorn. But they are no longer seen as the number of trees in Singapore is very much reduced.
Trees over 12 metres, trunks with curious swellings, like 'scuptures' of undefinable shapes.
Flowers, greenish-white with corolla hairy, that eventually become spiral pods, with a sweet pulp - hence Pithecellobium (ape's earings) dulce (sweet).
The Tamil name 'kodukkaai' means 'curved fruit'. They are edible - harvested and sold along streets in some countries.
Leaves compound, dark green. One variety with white-green variegated leaves is getting popular as an ornamental plant in Singapore.
