With the onset of winter in Goa, during late evening one may experience some mesmerising fragrance emanating from forests.
Although a few people find this smell a little overpowering, others mistake it for the fragrance of Ratrani (night-blooming jasmine).
But, this smell actually comes from the Saptaparni ( Alstonia scholaris ) tree. The flowers are small, greenish-white and grow in tight clusters that stay until December.
The tree is one of the fastest growing trees in the woods and may grow to a height of up to 40 metres. The Saptaparni's ability to induce hallucinations has earned it the name of Devil's tree.