Samban-Lei Sekpil

Samban-Lei Sekpil is the world's tallest topiary. Created by Moirangthem Okendra Kumbi, it is modelled in the shape of a series of open umbrellas and spheres.

Moirangthem started mending the Samban-Lei in 1983, originally planted by his sister in a small mustard oil can. Samban-Lei is a flowering shrub use for fencing gardens in Manipur - "Samban" means fencing and "Lei" means flower in Manipuri language. "Sekpil" indicates the shape of the topiary and is derived from an ancient Manipuri word for a decorative bamboo post with rounded structured cloths forming canopy in many stages. The sekpil, at present also called as "Shattra" is generally used in worship and festivals in Manipur.

Facts at a glance

* Botanical name: "Duranta repens" L.
* Cultivar: 'Variegata'.
* Common name: Sky Flower.
* Hindi name: "Nilkanta".
* Manipuri name: "Samban-lei Mana Arangba".
* Planting year: 1981.
* Experiment started year: 1983.
* National record (Limca Book of Records): 18 November 1992 (at the height of 6 m (20 ft), with 11 steps).
* World record (Guinness Book of Records): 26 November 1999 (at the height of 15 m (50 ft), with 35 steps).
* Present height: 18.6 m (61 ft).
* Topiary steps: 44.

References

* [http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=53209 World's tallest topiary at Guinness Book of Records]
* [http://imphalwest.nic.in/sambanlei.html Samban-Lei Sekpil the tallest Topiary in the World at imphalwest.nic.ic]