Jacaranda (Jacaranda acutifolia). Family Bignoniaceae. South American tree with clusters of mauve flowers and delicate pinnate leaves.

Pretoria is popularly known as The Jacaranda City due to the vast number of Jacaranda trees planted as street trees and in parks and gardens. In flowering time the city appears blue/purple in colour when seen from the nearby hills because of all the Jacaranda trees. The time of year the Jacarandas bloom in Pretoria coincides with the year-end exams at the University of Pretoria and legend has it that if a flower from the Jacaranda tree drops on your head, you will pass all your exams. Other towns and cities in South Africa have Jacaranda trees, but none produce
such a show as that of Pretoria.

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