Trees of Delhi at 20: Pradip Krishen’s guide to 252 species

Pradip Krishen’s *Trees of Delhi* turns 20 this year. First published in 2006, the field guide documents 252 tree species found across the capital.

It pairs photographs with scientific, common and local names, flowering seasons, and identifying details of leaves and fruit. Its “where to see it” notes create a map of sorts: bistendu on the Ridge, kareel in Jahanpanah City Forest, and amaltas along Amrita Shergil Marg, Shanti Path, Akbar Road and Shakti Sthal.

A city seen leaf by leaf

The book moves between broad canopies and close studies of bark, flowers and fruit. Kosam, reettha and imli appear in succession, inviting readers to look more closely at trees they may pass every day.

Some entries are less expected in Delhi. The olive section cautions readers not to expect the old, gnarled forms associated with the Mediterranean. It identifies the city’s oldest olive specimen at Lal Bahadur Shastri’s samadhi sthal in Vijay Ghat, and notes others at the Italian and Vatican embassies.

The directions were written two decades ago, so a present-day tree walk may involve some searching. The guide anticipated one change: that amaltas could become so common that Delhi might stop noticing it despite its yellow summer flowering.

A guide still in use

The book followed an earlier local reference, J. K. Maheshwari’s *Flora of Delhi*, published in the 1960s. It has since been joined by guides including *Fruiting Trees of Delhi*, while Krishen later published *Jungle Trees of Central India* in 2013.

At Lithuanian ambassador Diana Mickevičienė’s Vasant Vihar home, a well-used copy lies open at the kaniar entry, pages 194 and 195. Pink slips mark pages of interest, and a green leaf rests beside the printed ones. Phone-based image tools can identify a tree from a photograph, but the guide directs readers to particular streets, forests and corners of Delhi.