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''Polyalthia longifolia'' (False Ashoka) is a lofty evergreen tree, native to India, commonly planted due to its effectiveness in alleviating noise pollution. It exhibits symmetrical pyramidal growth with willowy weeping pendulous branches and long narrow lanceolate leaves with undulate margins. The tree is known to grow over 30 ft in height. Polyalthea is derived from a combination of Greek words meaning ‘many cures’ with reference to the medicinal properties of the tree while Longifolia, in Latin, refers to the length of its leaves. Polyalthia longifolia is sometimes incorrectly identified as the Ashoka tree (Saraca indica) because of the close resemblance of both trees. One might mistake it as a tree with effectively no branches, but in fact a ''Polyalthia'' allowed to grow naturally (without trimming the branches out for decorative reasons) grows into a normal large tree with plenty of shade. == Common names == Polyalthia longifolia's common names include False Ashoka, the Buddha Tree, Indian mast tree, and Indian Fir tree. Its names in other languages include ''Ashoka'' in Sanskrit, ''Unboi''(উনবৈ) or ''Debadaru'' (দেৱদাৰু) in Assamese, ''Debdaru'' in Bengali and Hindi, ''Asopalav'' (Gujarati), ''Glodogan tiang'' (Indonesian), ''Ashok'' in Marathi and ''Nettilinkam'' நெட்டிலிங்கம் in Tamil, and ''araNamaram'': അരണമരം (Malayalam). There are two important traditions associated with the tree in India (presumably in its full, untrimmed, form with spreading branches), one being of Sita taking shelter in the shade of Ashoka when in captivity (found in the Ramayana) and another that of the Ashoka tree requiring a kick from a beautiful woman on spring festival day before it would bloom (in the Malavikagnimitra, for example). However, these associations are linked to the real Ashoka tree not the false Ashoka tree (Polyalthia longifolia). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Polyalthia longifolia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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