Samban-Lei Sekpil
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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.
[edit] 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.
