 | Biodiversity in the Western Ghats: An Information Kit (IIRR, 1994, 224 p.) |
 |  | 5. Agriculture |
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5.4 Floriculture and arboriculture
The warm, humid climate of the Western Ghats is conducive to plant growth all year round. A vast collection of grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees grow in the varied ecosystems of the region. Some have been commercially used-even over-exploited. Others have their commercial or ornamental value yet to be discovered.
When a plant species is domesticated and used, its economic value ensures that it is multiplied and preserved. On the other hand, this can lead to a narrowing of the genetic resource as only those varieties or species of economic value are conserved.
Floriculture
The Western Ghats are home to 250 orchid species, of which 100 are endemic. There are 71 species of Impatiens, some species of palms, 150 species of grasses and other plants of ornamental value. A host of introduced plant species, including Hibiscus, Lantana and Capsicum have naturalized in this region.
The government focuses attention on commercial floriculture by identifying centers where particular plants can thrive (such as orchids in Kerala), and promotes the industry through generous subsidies. It discourages the offering of bouquets and garlands by encouraging event organizers to offer a potted plant to guests. Alternatively, the guest can plant a tree at the event site.
Worth 1000 words...
Flowering plants beautify our houses and add colour and fragrance to our cities. They hide ugly spots and protect homes from dust and noise. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Flowers adorn women's hair and decorate pictures of gods, saints, national leaders and deceased loved ones. Garlands are exchanged by the bride and groom in traditional Indian marriages, especially among Hindus. Flower scents are extracted for use when the flowers themselves are not available.
Flowers of a certain species or colour are associated with Hindu dieties. For instance, white flowers are offered to Shiva. At Mangueshi temple, only Zuyee flowers are offered at a special pools during the full-moon at the end of the rains.
Irrespective of religion, we offer bouquets on joyous occassions and wreaths at funerals. The age-old tradition of putting a token trowel of soil on the grave has been replaced by the placing of a flower.
Arboriculture
Trees are original inhabitants of the Western Ghats. Native tree species are still abundant, though their numbers have decreased.
Coconut and cashew plantations are not a threat to native species. Acacia auriculiformis and A. mangium, introduced from Australia for planting on mining dumps, may become a threat to native species if they are not controlled.
Large-scale felling of teak and other timber species is not desirable in the Western Ghats. The region's steep slopes and heavy rainfall makes the soil prone to erosion. The traditional practice of selective felling of mature trees is a more suitable alternative.
Flowers in the economy
The jasmine group of Mogrem, Zuyee (J. sambac, J. officinale and J. auriculatum) combine beauty with fragrance. Jasmines are used to make aromatic jasmine oil used in cosmetics and soaps.
Jasmine
Cut flower growing is a booming business in India. Orchids,
anthuriums, roses and chrysanthemums are grown for export of cut
flowers.
Periwinkles are grown extensively for extraction of cancer-curing
alkaloids.
Glorylily pods and roots are used in medicine.
Timber plantations
A number of companies are promoting monoculture teak and rosewood plantations in the Western Ghats. They promise high profits, but current levels of technology does not make such planting feasible or desirable. Block felling at a later date will result in soil erosion.
Timber plantations
Indigenous and exotic tree species in the Western Ghats
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Name |
Species |
Uses |
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Runeala plum, jagam, jangma |
Flacourtia jagomas |
Fruits relished by children. Eaten after softening between the palms of the hands. |
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Adam's fruit, adao, manilphal |
Mimusops kauki |
Fruits are eaten. Seedlings used as rootstocks for sapota grafts. Wood is used for furniture. |
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Elengi, bakul, vonvlam |
Mimusops elengi |
Creamy-brown scented flowers are used as hair adornment and to mask body odour. Fruits are edible. |
|
Java plum, jamun, jambool |
Syzyzium cumin |
Fruit is edible and used in control of diabetes. Excellent for wines, liquor. Wood is good timber. |
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Guava, pew, amrud |
Psidium guajava |
Fruit is the tropical apple, rich in vitamin C and pectin. Made into jellies. Wood for walking sticks. |
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Cashew, kaju |
Anacardium occidentale |
Kernel is excellent snack, Shell liquid used for termite control, "apples" used for alcoholic drink. |
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Mango, ambo, am* |
Mangifera indica |
Excellent table fruit, trunk is used to make dug- out boats. Leaves used in religious ceremonies. |
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Hog plum, ambado |
Spondias mangifera |
Immature fruit cooked at Divali, made into pickle in brine or spices. Ripe fruit relished. |
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Bengal almod, badam* |
Terminalia catappa |
Fruit pulp and kernel edible. Leaves become red in cold weather, beautiful tree for large garden. |
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Marat, marti* |
Terminalia creneleta |
High class timber, adopted as the State Tree of Goa. |
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Kindol* |
Terminalia paniculata |
High class timber obtained from its trunk. |
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Benteak, nano, nanan* |
Laigestroemia lanceolata |
Wood used in furniture and ship-building. Bark is used for tanning leather. |
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Indian teak, sailo, jati* |
Tectona grandis |
Most commonly used wood for furniture, rafters, railway sleepers. |
|
Jack, pangs, borkoi* |
Artocarpus integrifolia |
Multiple fruit relished, rich in vitamins A and C, Wood used for furniture. used as cattle feed. |
|
White teak, shewan* |
Gmelina arborea |
Wood used in mine-shafts and or handles. Fruit is eaten by some birds and animals. |
* indigenous to India
Flowering trees, shrubs and creepers
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Common name |
Scientific name |
Local name |
Parts used |
Uses |
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Shrubs/herbs |
| | ||
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Crossandra(Indigenous) |
Crossandra udulifolia |
Abolim, priyadarsha |
Flowers |
Festivals, weddings, Lent season processions, traditional folk dances(Dekni, Fugdi and Mando) |
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Jasmines (Indigenous) |
Jasminum sp. |
Mogrim, zuye, zayee |
Flowers, scent |
Zayeechi Poornima (full moon) festival |
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Periwinkle(Exotic) |
Catharanthus roseus |
Perpet, sadaphuli |
Flowers, leaves |
Leukemia treatment. Normally grown in cemeteries as it requires little maintenance. Commercially cultivated. |
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Ixora (Exotic) |
Ixora coccinea |
Pitkol, pidkol |
Flowers, stem |
Wreaths, walking sticks. |
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Lantana |
Lantana camera |
Ghanerem |
Flowers |
Flower beds. Used as mosquito replellant. Easily becomes a weed if seeds are allowed to germinate. |
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Paper chase(Exotic) |
Mussaendra | |
White bracts |
Ornamental |
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Shoeflower(Exotic) |
Hibiscus rosasinensis |
Doshin, dushwanti |
Flowers |
Ornamental, shoe/heir blackener. As salad dressing, along with onions. White flowers used in Shiva temples. |
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Sickle senna(Indigenous) |
Cassia tore |
Thaikulo, taikulo |
Leaves, seeds |
Vegetable, ringworm cure, mordant, coffee substitute during economic crisis |
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Rose |
Rosa sp. |
Gulab |
Flowers |
Bouquets, rose water. "Gulkand" (a paste of rose petals and sugar) eaten with betel leaves and areca nut ("pan supari') on festive occassions. |
|
Impatiens |
Impatiens |
Chido |
Flowers |
Potted plant which flowers almost all year |
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(Patient Lucy) |
tomentosa | |
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Trees |
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Indian labernum(Exotic) |
Cassia fistula |
Bayo |
Flowers, leaves, pods |
Ornamental, liver ailments, purgative(crushed pipe-Eke pod) |
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Champac |
Michelia champaca |
Champa, chamfo |
Flowers |
Hair adornment, fragrant flowers, normally wrapped in banana leaf, often sold at bus stands. |
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Coral tree(Indigenous) |
Erythrina indica |
Pongara |
Flowers, leaves, whole tree |
Ornamental, fodder (leaves), shade in coffee plantaions, support for pepper vines |
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Cycus |
Cycus bedami |
Cycus |
Whole tree, leaves |
Ornamental palm |
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Fishtail palm |
Caryota urens |
Billo mead |
Whole tree, leaves |
Ornamental, caryota leaves and fruit bunches used as decoration at feasts and weddings. |
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Seasonals |
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Tuberose |
(Exotic) Polianthes sp. |
Rajniganda, tuberose |
Flowers |
Bouquets, garlands, scents. Flowers add fragrance to reception halls. |
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Marigold (Exotic) |
Tagetes erecta |
Rosam |
Flowers |
Garlands, anthelminthic, stomach upset(flower decorations), garlands at Desshera festivals and weddings |
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Glory lily(Indigenous) |
Gloriosa superba |
Wagnak |
Flowers, fruits, roots |
Ornamental, leprosy treatment |
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Ice-cream creeper (Exotic) |
Antigonum leptopus |
Santamaria |
Flowers |
Ornamental |
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Rangoon creeper (Indigenous) |
Quisqualis indica |
Kolvont |
Flowers |
Ornamental, flowers worn in hair |
Prepared by Michael Braganza
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