A forest official taps into the trunk of a seemingly ordinary tree in a dry Indian forest. Water flows out into his cupped hands. He drinks it, smiles, and says it tastes good.

The moment, captured in a widely shared reel by Jungle Diaries, surprised many viewers because the tree itself looks entirely unremarkable: rough bark, bare branches, no obvious sign that it holds litres of drinkable water within. 

The species is Terminalia tomentosa — known as saj, asan, marutham, or ain depending on where you are in India — and it belongs to a remarkable group of trees that survive drought by storing water inside their trunks, roots, or tissues. 

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Rajat Kumar Singh (@wildlife_with_rajat)

A post shared by Rajat Kumar Singh (@wildlife_with_rajat)

Across India’s dry deciduous forests, rocky hillsides, and desert landscapes, several tree species have evolved versions of the same strategy: save water during the monsoon, then spend it slowly through punishing summers. Some swell into bottle-shaped trunks. Others hide reserves in roots or soft wood. 

Together, they form some of the subcontinent’s most extraordinary survival systems.

Here are some of the most fascinating among them.

1. Saj / Asan (Terminalia tomentosa)

This is the tree seen in the viral video. Common across central and peninsular India, saj trees are known for their thick, deeply fissured “crocodile bark” and their ability to survive long dry spells.

Not every tree stores water. Research from Bandipur National Park found that only around 5–10 percent of mature individuals develop water-filled cavities within the trunk. These trees often show a raised ridge or swelling on the bark — a sign recognised by forest communities long before scientists documented it.

During summer, people living near forests sometimes tap these cavities for drinking water. Traditional knowledge systems have long considered the water safe and even medicinal for stomach ailments.

2. Semal / Red Silk Cotton (Bombax........

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