" He plants trees to benefit another generation"
I have mentioned about ten plants ,some of these happened to be very rare trees in my previous blog. Our village happened to be a store house of many more rare plant species those days.Some of these were of medicinal and some others were important for providing us fruits or play materials.
These plants may not have disappeared totally but,becoming rare for the area.I would start with a
rare herb of our home garden.
Shir Amla-As I remember there was only one plant of this plant was available in our village. It was a medium seized tree located near Bus stand.The plant was deciduous, leafy and green. Male and flowers are produced in clusters, Round pale yellow colored fruits
colored fruits developed in clusters having sour in taste. .Apart from its food value , fruits are of medicinal values . Scientific name-Phyllanthus acidus, Family-Phyllanthaceae.
Brihati-It was a very common household plant in Iyengar houses of the village.Considering extensive uses in South Indian vegetables and medicinal values, it was probably introduced from South India. Plants happened to be bushy shrub with branched stem. Grey hairy stem posses
occasional spines. Flowers are small white in colour produced in bunches. Fruits are small berries which turn yellow when ripe.Unripe green fruits are edible. These are also preserved after drying and eaten after soaking in curds. Its uses in ayurvedic medicine as active ingredient for the cure of hyper acidity, cold and cough, skin diseases and leprosy are well known.Its Scientific name
is:Solanum torvum,family-Solanaceae.
Kauwa or Keo-(Crepe Ginger)- This plant as I remember was called as Kawa but it is actually called Keo in Bengali.As I
remember this plant was growing at the base of hill near our house and name Kawa Kuli to one of the "Para" of our village has been derived from the name of this plant.Plants were having large erect stem.Leaves were spirally arranged on the stem. Numerous white or light pink colored flowers were born in spike with red bracts at the base of each flower.It has importance in the preparation of medicine for fever, rashes,intestinal worms and also used for the treatment of kidney problems. Its scientific name is
Chelicostus speciosus,family-Costaceae.
Kanch-Herbaceous climbers with bright shining red with partly black seeds were abundant in the hilly part of our house.Plants grow with support
from bushes or some trees The climber twine around and grow. Small flowers are produced in bunches.They produce pods with 2-3 round seeds. When ripe these pods split open exposing round,shining red seeds.Seeds called Kanch is important for the traditional jewelers as unit
for weighing gold, Seeds are poisonous but roots are used in ayurvedic medicine for fever, cold and cough etc. Scientific name of this plant is : Abrus precatorius ,family-Fabaceae.
Latha or Latha Karanj-Round/oval shining grey seeds of this plant used to the material for play.Other happened to be Gorgot,
is:Solanum torvum,family-Solanaceae.
Kauwa or Keo-(Crepe Ginger)- This plant as I remember was called as Kawa but it is actually called Keo in Bengali.As I
Chelicostus speciosus,family-Costaceae.Kanch-Herbaceous climbers with bright shining red with partly black seeds were abundant in the hilly part of our house.Plants grow with support
from bushes or some trees The climber twine around and grow. Small flowers are produced in bunches.They produce pods with 2-3 round seeds. When ripe these pods split open exposing round,shining red seeds.Seeds called Kanch is important for the traditional jewelers as unit
for weighing gold, Seeds are poisonous but roots are used in ayurvedic medicine for fever, cold and cough etc. Scientific name of this plant is : Abrus precatorius ,family-Fabaceae.
Latha or Latha Karanj-Round/oval shining grey seeds of this plant used to the material for play.Other happened to be Gorgot,
which has also been included in this blog.During those days a number bushes of this plant were present in the waste lands of the
village.Plants happened to be shrubs of moderate height. Branches of the plants were covered with recurved prickles. Flowers were yellow in colour. Fruits glabrous covered with prickles. Each fruit contained one or two shining dark coloured seeds. For us during childhood seeds were only playing material but,has medicinal values. Leaves,roots etc.are used as tonic.Roots have been found useful in kidney and bladder stones.Bitter extract from seeds is used as Quinine against Malaria.Fat obtained from seeds is used in cosmetics. The scientific name of this plant is : Caesalpinia cristata, family-Caesalpiniaceae.
Gargot-It is another plant which was very popular as playing material in
our childhood days. We used the bright colored seeds(fruits) as target material. We used to collect these seeds from paddy fields as these used to grow as wild weeds of paddy. But,its cultivated varieties are grown in different countries.It is also popularly known Adlay Millet.Plants happened to be tall grass like herbs with sheathing leaves,Plants produced colored polished seeds with hard pseudo pericarp.These beadlike structures were white or black colored oval structures.These are used for making Rosaries,Neckless and some other articles.Some countries cultivate this plant for food.Its scientific name is : Coix lacryma-jobi var. lacryma jobi ,family-Poaceae.
Flame Lily(Glory Lily)-We used to call this beautiful plant as "Larhaiya"or a plant capable of
quarrel between neighbors. The climbers used to be found in the hill near our house. I remember that once the flower so attracted me that I climbed up the hill immediately to see it from a close distance. At present this plant has completely disappeared from this region.It is also an endangered species as per the forest department
record.The perennial climber grow from fleshy rhizome has a height of about 4-5 meters.lanceolate leaves have long tips drawn into tendrils. Large showy flowers are large with long wavy petals These are bright red to orange in color with bright yellow base.Parts of the plant specially the rhizome contains deadly poison for both man and animals. Traditionally the plant was used for the treatment of Grout, Arthritis, Infertility etc. . The plant contains a valuable alkaloid named Colchicine in high amount.Scientific name of this
plant is : Gloriosa superba,family-Colchicaceae.
Alkushi(Akolchi)-This climber used to grow in plenty on the waste land at the backyard of our house. It was also available on the similar habitats of the village. At time we only knew about the itching effects of hairs present on the surfaces of the fruits or pods, its medicinal values have been
discovered in recent times. Plants are climbers with trifoliate leaves which are grey in colour having silky under surface. Flowers are bluish pink produced in groups. Fruits are long 3to 4 seeded. These turn brown in colour with fine hairs all over. Seeds are bean like coloured. Seeds of this plant considered as poisonous but recent studies have shown that it contain chemical which can be used in case of Parkinson disease. It has also been found useful in controlling Cholesterol. Its Scientific Name is : Mucuna purines family-Fabaceae.
Shiakul(Jackal Jujube)- Searching Shiakul bushes for black ripe berries happened to be interesting job during winter of childhood days. The job was difficult at this age as the bushes were thorny. Still the attraction was special.
Plants happened to be thorny shrub.Some times appeared as woody climbers forming tangles.These were generally present on the hedges or at the margins of the paddy fields. Small green flowers were produced on the axils.They developed in to small round green berries with one large seed per fruit. Ripe berries turned black with sour taste. We had no knowledge about its medicinal values but,the plant has some medicinal properties. The plant produces a chemical called Ziziphines used as herbal medicines. Chewed leaves are used for dressing of wounds by tribal. It has use as mouth wash, in dysentery and in soar throat. Its scientific name Is:Zizyphus oenoplia, family-Rahmnaceae.
Ankol- This is another plant which is still in my childhood memory. The plant was very common on the hill behind our house. We in the village used to call it as "Ankhra". We had very little
knowledge about its economic importance during those days but now I find this plant as a valuable plant growing in Purulia and adjoining districts of West Bengal. Small bushy trees of this plant had few branches with dark green leaves forming dense canopy. Small white flowers were fragrant. Petals were typically curled backward exposing multiple stamens. It has number of medicinal uses roots and fruits are used for the treatment of Rheumatism and haemorhoids.It. It has been found effective in bites of rats, rabbits and dogs. Research has revealed the plant has anticancer, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used for diabetes, epilepsy etc. Its scientific name is
Alangium salvifolium,family-Cornaceae.
Curry Leaf Plant-
It is one of the two plant brought from South India by Iyengars Brahmins. This tropical medium seized tree happens to be very important ingredient of South Indian food preparations as the name "Kari" in Tamil means spices. The main trunk branches at regular intervals producing bushy appearance. Pinnately compound leaves arise from these branches. These are shining deep green in colour with pungent oduor.Leaves are used fresh or dried with vegetable and sauces in South India. It has been reported that pungent leaves and roots contain active ingredient effective as stimulant and also for the control of dysentery ,vomiting etc. It has use as analgesic and anti inflammatory agent. It has also use in piles and leukoderma. Its scientific name is: Murraya koinigii family- Rutaceae. This plant has adapted well to the condition of our village and growing in abundance.
Sandal Wood- This plant is a native of South India but now been successfully acclimatized to the
to the climatic condition of the village. There happened to be a tree of this plant in the garden near the High School and transmission and propagation to different places of the village took place through natural agencies like birds. Initially villagers were not aware about it propagation on many places even on the hills but, once it came to light indiscriminate cutting started. I do not know whether some measures for protection of this valuable plant have been taken or not. But I have seen few plants growing. Plants are tropical trees. These ever green trees can survive up to
100 years. Plants are root parasites. Various trees serve as hosts and the root
send haustoria for drawing nutrition without causing any harm to the host plant. It only depends for water and mineral nutrients on the hosts. It manufacture its own food .Further a plant may have multiple hosts. Being a slow growing plant the valuable heart wood part may be taken out after a long period. This part contains fragrant essential oil. It has various applications in the preparation of soap, cosmetics and also for medicinal purposes, Scientific name of this plant is: Santalum album, family-Santalaceae.
In the present blog I have written about thirteen plants from the memory of childhood days. It is all based my personal observations and not to thrust up on my views on others.my sole objective to make the future generation aware about the vegetation which our predecessors tried to develop and importance of conservation of existing plants. One must keep in mind that most of the plants growing around us in nature are of great importance. My memories about plants from childhood days have not exhausted and will present in the next blog.
" Endangered species are our friends " Yao Ming.
village.Plants happened to be shrubs of moderate height. Branches of the plants were covered with recurved prickles. Flowers were yellow in colour. Fruits glabrous covered with prickles. Each fruit contained one or two shining dark coloured seeds. For us during childhood seeds were only playing material but,has medicinal values. Leaves,roots etc.are used as tonic.Roots have been found useful in kidney and bladder stones.Bitter extract from seeds is used as Quinine against Malaria.Fat obtained from seeds is used in cosmetics. The scientific name of this plant is : Caesalpinia cristata, family-Caesalpiniaceae.Gargot-It is another plant which was very popular as playing material in
our childhood days. We used the bright colored seeds(fruits) as target material. We used to collect these seeds from paddy fields as these used to grow as wild weeds of paddy. But,its cultivated varieties are grown in different countries.It is also popularly known Adlay Millet.Plants happened to be tall grass like herbs with sheathing leaves,Plants produced colored polished seeds with hard pseudo pericarp.These beadlike structures were white or black colored oval structures.These are used for making Rosaries,Neckless and some other articles.Some countries cultivate this plant for food.Its scientific name is : Coix lacryma-jobi var. lacryma jobi ,family-Poaceae.
Flame Lily(Glory Lily)-We used to call this beautiful plant as "Larhaiya"or a plant capable of
quarrel between neighbors. The climbers used to be found in the hill near our house. I remember that once the flower so attracted me that I climbed up the hill immediately to see it from a close distance. At present this plant has completely disappeared from this region.It is also an endangered species as per the forest department
record.The perennial climber grow from fleshy rhizome has a height of about 4-5 meters.lanceolate leaves have long tips drawn into tendrils. Large showy flowers are large with long wavy petals These are bright red to orange in color with bright yellow base.Parts of the plant specially the rhizome contains deadly poison for both man and animals. Traditionally the plant was used for the treatment of Grout, Arthritis, Infertility etc. . The plant contains a valuable alkaloid named Colchicine in high amount.Scientific name of this
plant is : Gloriosa superba,family-Colchicaceae.
Alkushi(Akolchi)-This climber used to grow in plenty on the waste land at the backyard of our house. It was also available on the similar habitats of the village. At time we only knew about the itching effects of hairs present on the surfaces of the fruits or pods, its medicinal values have been
Shiakul(Jackal Jujube)- Searching Shiakul bushes for black ripe berries happened to be interesting job during winter of childhood days. The job was difficult at this age as the bushes were thorny. Still the attraction was special.
Ankol- This is another plant which is still in my childhood memory. The plant was very common on the hill behind our house. We in the village used to call it as "Ankhra". We had very little
knowledge about its economic importance during those days but now I find this plant as a valuable plant growing in Purulia and adjoining districts of West Bengal. Small bushy trees of this plant had few branches with dark green leaves forming dense canopy. Small white flowers were fragrant. Petals were typically curled backward exposing multiple stamens. It has number of medicinal uses roots and fruits are used for the treatment of Rheumatism and haemorhoids.It. It has been found effective in bites of rats, rabbits and dogs. Research has revealed the plant has anticancer, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used for diabetes, epilepsy etc. Its scientific name is
Alangium salvifolium,family-Cornaceae.
Curry Leaf Plant-
Sandal Wood- This plant is a native of South India but now been successfully acclimatized to the
to the climatic condition of the village. There happened to be a tree of this plant in the garden near the High School and transmission and propagation to different places of the village took place through natural agencies like birds. Initially villagers were not aware about it propagation on many places even on the hills but, once it came to light indiscriminate cutting started. I do not know whether some measures for protection of this valuable plant have been taken or not. But I have seen few plants growing. Plants are tropical trees. These ever green trees can survive up to100 years. Plants are root parasites. Various trees serve as hosts and the root
send haustoria for drawing nutrition without causing any harm to the host plant. It only depends for water and mineral nutrients on the hosts. It manufacture its own food .Further a plant may have multiple hosts. Being a slow growing plant the valuable heart wood part may be taken out after a long period. This part contains fragrant essential oil. It has various applications in the preparation of soap, cosmetics and also for medicinal purposes, Scientific name of this plant is: Santalum album, family-Santalaceae.
In the present blog I have written about thirteen plants from the memory of childhood days. It is all based my personal observations and not to thrust up on my views on others.my sole objective to make the future generation aware about the vegetation which our predecessors tried to develop and importance of conservation of existing plants. One must keep in mind that most of the plants growing around us in nature are of great importance. My memories about plants from childhood days have not exhausted and will present in the next blog.
" Endangered species are our friends " Yao Ming.
