Bead Tree / Elaeocarpus grandiflorus

The flowers of the Bead Tree are so pretty and unusual. I don't remember ever seeing this before in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo, or maybe I just wasn't there when it was in bloom. This is a macro shot, so the flowers are fairly small. Taken on 9 April 2013. I love some of the common names for this species - Fringe Bells, Fairy Petticoats, Lily of the valley tree, Blue olive berry, and Scrub ash.

"A medium size tree with a dense crown of foliage, and an approximately conical form. The masses of white and sometimes pinkish flowers are arranged in rows along the branchlets."

toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/elaeocarpus_sp.htm

"Hindus believe the seeds contain the secrets of the entire evolution of the cosmos. It´s said the plant has been born from the tears of Lord Shiva. The fruits have an intensely blue color (Blue olive berry), which changes to a light or dark brown when dried. The seeds are used for rosaries (Malas with 108 beads) and have a hole from the top to the bottom and they have 1 to 21 vertical lines running down its surface, like the longitude lines on a globe. This lines are called Mukhas and depending on the number of Mukhas the beads have a different effect and meaning. Several Elaeocarpus species are used for the production of Rudraksha beads. The Rudraksha tree (Elaeocarpus grandiflorus) is a fast growing, evergreen tree, which can reach a height of about 25 meters. The tropical tree is native from the foothills of the Himalaya throughout South and South-East Asia to Australia. The flowers have an unusual scent, reminescent of liquorice."

www.orchids-flowers.com/tropical-flowers/rudraksha-tree-e...