Memories of childhood days are very special to all of us. We remember persons associated during those days and also some of the special events of childhood days.Greater part of my childhood was spent in Godi Bero.It is a beautiful village in the District of Purulia in West Bengal.I still remember the place surrounded by hills. Large pond with clear water used to add to its beauty. There were few gardens and orchards around hosting large number of valuable plants. We used to move around these green areas enjoying seasonal fruits some times against the wishes of the owners of private gardens. After joining college, University and finally job, my association with the village became limited. During my last visit after many years, I noticed the village has changed significantly. I also realised that many valuable plants have disappeared. From a Botanist's angle the loss is irreparable. Since, no record is available so, I decided to prepare a list of some plants which have disappeared or may disappear soon. My observation is based on my memory of my village and its around. So, plant being listed as disappeared may still be surviving on other locations. Chances of omission and error can not be ruled out as, the list is being presented not strictly observing scientific parameters. In this part I shall be remembering some rare trees which have disappeared completely or reduced to few in number.I would start with plants which disappeared from our home garden.
Roti Phal- It happened to be very interesting plant introduced by my uncle from some source unknown.The medium seized tree bearing large round Gourd like fruits was unique'.Reason for calling it as Roti Phal is still not clear to me.It was actually a Calabash Tree of Caribbean island.
It is also found in countries like Bermuda,St Vincent ,Sri Lanka etc..
Some of these countries consider this plant is of great value. Mayan legend considers it as" Luch",a creation of God who,fathered the Mayan Royal family.While finding details about this plant I could know that the name Haitian currency "Gourde" has probably been named after it.This plant is found in southern states of our country.Calabash tree bears large round fruits directly on its trunk and branches.Its flowers depend on bats for pollination.An attempt to use calabash fruits as vegetable in our family failed and naturally one or two plants remained as show piece.No one explored about the Economic importance of this plant and ultimately we lost it.In fact,this plant is being extensively used for making musical instruments,Bowls,making papers for cigarettes etc..Scientific Name of this plant is
Crescentia cujute,Family-Bignoniaceae.
Cashew Nut Tree-We used to call it as Bhalai Aam locally.It was only plant available in our village.
It was a tree with number of branches.As I remember the flowering used to take place during winter as in Mango and ripening of fruits in summer.Ripe fruits appeared as yellow pear shaped bearing hard bean shaped seeds terminally.In reality the fleshy,juicy yellow fruit like structure is the stalk bearing the bean shaped hard fruits.Initially the tree in our uncle's court yard was the only plant in the village but, later on a limited number of plant came up at other places also. The fate of these plant is not known to me.Scientific Name is Anacardium occidentalis,
Family-Anacardiaceae.
Bhala Or Bhallataka-Although this plant was not found in our village but it fruits had special attraction for us.Only few plants of this plant similar in many charecter to cashew plant were present in neighboring Adivasi village.Plants of this species are of Himalayan origin.These are trees bearing fruits similar to Cashew nut but,yellow fleshy stalk is round in shape bearing black ,oval or round hard fruits.Fleshy ripe fruits are sweet and edible fresh or after roasting.fruits are medicinal containing corrosive oil.Its Scientific Name is Semercarpus anacardium Family-Anacardiaceae.
Ritha Phal-There were two large trees in the Hanuman Temple located at a corner near the High School.As I remember, one red colored stone image of God Hanuman was placed at the base of these trees.It is known about the person who planted these rare trees but,people used to collect fallen ripe fruits from around these trees.These were used for using as shampoo those days.Scientific Name is
Sapindus mucurossi Family-Sapindaceae.
Rong Phal (Lipstick Tree)-It is another missing plant of our village.During our child hood days one or two plants were located in the abandoned house of Mr Ram Achari's family.One two medium seized branched trees could be seen from out side the house as we seldom ventured in to the house. natural dye yielding plant might have been grown for dyeing clothes but perished uncared. Plants produced light pink fragrant flowers and developed in to pods or fruits.These were covered with bristles and used to turn red when ripe.Red pigments present on the seeds were used as dye.Scientific Name is Bixa orellana,Family-Bixaceae.
Koth Bel (Koeth Bel)-It happens to be a very common fruit available through out W.Bengal but, there was only one plant in our village and was of great attraction for school going children.Only tree was located near the Boys Primary school.Since it was a large tree with fruits located at upper branches so, school going child used to aim at the fruits with very little success.Ripe fruits were having very hard thick cover and inside the edible pulp was sour in taste. This rare plant is now extinct.Scientific Name of this plant is:Limonia acidessimia Family-
Rutaceae.
Shivlingam Tree- Near the High School there happened to be the a garden of Kisto Babu with a number of rare plant species.During those days it was
a restricted place.One of attraction was a beautiful flowering tree of Shivlingam or Cannon Ball tree.It happen to be a deciduous tree with branches spreading. Flowers were borne in clusters all through out the main trunk.around one thousand flowers may bloom per day.Each flower happened to be of bright red in color with a group of stamen forming of hood of snake.Fruits happen to be very large cannon ball like structures..Scientific name of this plant is:Couropita guianensis,family-Lecythidaceae.
Kend or Kendu-Only a single tree of this was present in our village during our child hood and is still surviving in the back yard of Mr. Jagadish Achari's house. How only single plant of Kendu grew at this location though in some of the forests around.I may imagine that anti malarial property in bark and other medicinal properties in leaves and fruits might be the factor behind its growth. Yellow or orange colored fruits are delicious.Its Scientific Name is
Its Scientific Name is-
Pithecelobium dulce, Family-
Fabaceae.
I have included ten plants,mostly fruit trees except Shivlingam .These are all from my memory of those days.It is just an attempt to let all know about the interest for growing rare plants by our ancestors. In the next part I shall include some more plants of special interest.
" I remember my childhood names for grasses and scent of flowers.
I remember where a toad live and what time the bird awaken in the
summer- and what trees and seasons smelled like- how people looked
and walked and smelled even. The memory of odors is very rich."
John Steinbeck.
Some of these countries consider this plant is of great value. Mayan legend considers it as" Luch",a creation of God who,fathered the Mayan Royal family.While finding details about this plant I could know that the name Haitian currency "Gourde" has probably been named after it.This plant is found in southern states of our country.Calabash tree bears large round fruits directly on its trunk and branches.Its flowers depend on bats for pollination.An attempt to use calabash fruits as vegetable in our family failed and naturally one or two plants remained as show piece.No one explored about the Economic importance of this plant and ultimately we lost it.In fact,this plant is being extensively used for making musical instruments,Bowls,making papers for cigarettes etc..Scientific Name of this plant is
Crescentia cujute,Family-Bignoniaceae.
Cashew Nut Tree-We used to call it as Bhalai Aam locally.It was only plant available in our village.
Family-Anacardiaceae.
Bhala Or Bhallataka-Although this plant was not found in our village but it fruits had special attraction for us.Only few plants of this plant similar in many charecter to cashew plant were present in neighboring Adivasi village.Plants of this species are of Himalayan origin.These are trees bearing fruits similar to Cashew nut but,yellow fleshy stalk is round in shape bearing black ,oval or round hard fruits.Fleshy ripe fruits are sweet and edible fresh or after roasting.fruits are medicinal containing corrosive oil.Its Scientific Name is Semercarpus anacardium Family-Anacardiaceae.
Ritha Phal-There were two large trees in the Hanuman Temple located at a corner near the High School.As I remember, one red colored stone image of God Hanuman was placed at the base of these trees.It is known about the person who planted these rare trees but,people used to collect fallen ripe fruits from around these trees.These were used for using as shampoo those days.Scientific Name isSapindus mucurossi Family-Sapindaceae.
Rong Phal (Lipstick Tree)-It is another missing plant of our village.During our child hood days one or two plants were located in the abandoned house of Mr Ram Achari's family.One two medium seized branched trees could be seen from out side the house as we seldom ventured in to the house. natural dye yielding plant might have been grown for dyeing clothes but perished uncared. Plants produced light pink fragrant flowers and developed in to pods or fruits.These were covered with bristles and used to turn red when ripe.Red pigments present on the seeds were used as dye.Scientific Name is Bixa orellana,Family-Bixaceae.
Koth Bel (Koeth Bel)-It happens to be a very common fruit available through out W.Bengal but, there was only one plant in our village and was of great attraction for school going children.Only tree was located near the Boys Primary school.Since it was a large tree with fruits located at upper branches so, school going child used to aim at the fruits with very little success.Ripe fruits were having very hard thick cover and inside the edible pulp was sour in taste. This rare plant is now extinct.Scientific Name of this plant is:Limonia acidessimia Family-Rutaceae.
a restricted place.One of attraction was a beautiful flowering tree of Shivlingam or Cannon Ball tree.It happen to be a deciduous tree with branches spreading. Flowers were borne in clusters all through out the main trunk.around one thousand flowers may bloom per day.Each flower happened to be of bright red in color with a group of stamen forming of hood of snake.Fruits happen to be very large cannon ball like structures..Scientific name of this plant is:Couropita guianensis,family-Lecythidaceae.
Kamranga-Like Koth Bel this is also commonly available fruit of West Bengal but there only one plant of this in our village and I have no information of other plant from the village.The rare plant was another rare possession of Kisto Babu's garden.The plant happened to be ever green tree of medium height.It bore clusters of oblong 5-6 angled fruits.Sour taste of fruits happens to be due to its oxalic acid.Its Scientific Name is:Averrhoa carambola Family-Oxalidaceae.
Kend or Kendu-Only a single tree of this was present in our village during our child hood and is still surviving in the back yard of Mr. Jagadish Achari's house. How only single plant of Kendu grew at this location though in some of the forests around.I may imagine that anti malarial property in bark and other medicinal properties in leaves and fruits might be the factor behind its growth. Yellow or orange colored fruits are delicious.Its Scientific Name is
Diospyros melanoxylon, Family-Ebanaceae.
Jilibi Phal-It is another wild fruit that attracted children of our time. The location of the plant close to both primary and High school was another attraction. There were few trees around .These were tall branched trees of considerable height.
Branches remained covered with leaves. Fruits or pods were long spiral or coiled structures which turned red when ripe. In side the fruits contained white fleshy, sweet edible mass . 
Its Scientific Name is-
Pithecelobium dulce, Family-
Fabaceae.
I have included ten plants,mostly fruit trees except Shivlingam .These are all from my memory of those days.It is just an attempt to let all know about the interest for growing rare plants by our ancestors. In the next part I shall include some more plants of special interest.
" I remember my childhood names for grasses and scent of flowers.
I remember where a toad live and what time the bird awaken in the
summer- and what trees and seasons smelled like- how people looked
and walked and smelled even. The memory of odors is very rich."
John Steinbeck.
