How does a tree found deep in the forest and listed as a threatened species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List catch the attention of farmers and become a local icon?
That’s what’s happening to Baccaurea courtallensis, a forest tree endemic to the Western Ghats which is also found in Kerala and Karnataka. Called moottippazham in Malayalam and koli juttu in Kannada, the tree, a medium-sized evergreen, is an awesome sight during the monsoon. In June and July, it yields fruit in dense bunches clinging to the tree’s trunk. The entire tree then bursts into a kaleidoscope of colour: bright pink, yellow and light orange.