I found an earlier Indiantreepix link on similar lines at: http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/5155b849f928d798/23ad27fb01d5d3f4?lnk=gst&q=Exotic+plants+++#23ad27fb01d5d3f4 from Indiantreepix Database: *Zz Beware of invasive plants. * ** ** ** ** Exotic plants - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/744fa733fe97bf8d> Exotic Plants - indiantreepix | Google Groups<http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/5155b849f928d798/23ad27fb01d5d3f4?lnk=gst&q=Exotic+plants+++#23ad27fb01d5d3f4>
On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 6:58 PM, Anand Kumar Bhatt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > I can only say small consolation. Surprise of surprise, it is also used as > a decorative tree, with yellow cluster of flowers. I have my views and I > think the pluses fail to outweigh the minuses. > There is another tree- Acacia mangium. I have been told that it was earlier > being encouraged by tamilnadu Forest Dept. but it was found that it is > invasive, and it does not allow local vegetation to grow. But one hears so > much about its timber: it is B grade, and the advantage is that it is a fast > growing tree. We do need more info about this tree. > Best wishes, > akbhatt > > On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 5:26 PM, Padmanabhan Geetha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > >> I am told that *prosopis juliflora* yields a good variety of >> charcoal/coal when its trunk is burnt. Has any one heard something similar? >> I also see this plant being used as fuel, as fences to guard fields from >> grazing animals etc. >> geetha >> >> On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:31 AM, Anand Kumar Bhatt < >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> I had some time back written a short piece on invasive plants which I >>> am attaching below. >>> SriSriAgri has also come out with a list of no-no trees. However they >>> have included acacia which is wrong as many varieties of acacia are very >>> useful. >>> Best wishes, >>> akbhatt *Beware of Exotic Plants* >>> >>> * * >>> >>> Beware of exotic plants. I will reel off what they have done to the >>> ecology of this country. >>> >>> >>> >>> First in the list: *water hyacinth*. It is said that it was brought by >>> an English lady on a boat from South America who was enchanted with the >>> purple flower and the deep green leaves. One hundred years later, it has >>> choked waterways and sucked the life-giving oxygen needed for small >>> aquatic beings. >>> >>> >>> >>> Second, *lantana.* It is is said that it was brought again from South >>> America during the World War II by some soldier who was attracted by its >>> gaudy efflorescence. Sixty years later it has become the worst weed on >>> land, usurping the space and nutrition that could be used by more useful >>> plants. >>> >>> >>> >>> Third: *eucalyptus*. Which is now so indigenised that it is called >>> Nilgiri. The name came because it was first introduced in the Nilgiris. >>> There are 700 species of the tree. However, what we see in India is >>> *citriodora >>> * which is lemon-scented variety. Only for some time it has been >>> discovered that its rate of transpiration is high and it lowers the >>> water-table. The Forest Dept has stopped using it. However, it has covered a >>> vast area. One advantage the tree has is that it is quick-growing and it >>> gives straight logs that can be used in village houses. >>> >>> >>> >>> Next*, ipomoeia*. In countryside it is known as besharam as it is so >>> hardy. This was brought from Australia. Was introduced in villages mainly >>> for fencing purposes. Half a century later it has become a nuisance in the >>> villages occupying large tracts of land. >>> >>> >>> >>> Fifth, *vilayati babool* (*prosopis juliflora*). Brought from South >>> America, I think. For reclamation of ravines, its seeds were spread >>> from planes and helicopters. Desi babool (acacia nilotica/arabica) gives >>> timber which is used for agricultural implements. Also it is used by birds >>> for nesting as being thorny it is safer from predators. But prosopis is more >>> bushy and so dense it it impossible for the birds to nest. It does not yield >>> any timber. >>> >>> >>> >>> Sixth, *acacia auriculiformis*. Again brought from Australia. This >>> looks like miniature eucalyptus. The Forest department is very fond of >>> it as it is quick growing and hardly needs any care. Widely used to satisfy >>> environmentalists for substitute plantation. Life I am told is 30-35 >>> years and apart from its bio-mass it hardly has any use. Another >>> useless item in the stable of firangi plants. >>> >>> >>> >>> Next, *gajar grass*. They say its seeds came with the hybrid Mexican >>> wheat when it first came to India. That is not too far back. Four decades or >>> even less. And it has become a menace, more so because its flower is highly >>> allergic, and the leaves injurious to the human skin. >>> >>> >>> >>> And last in the list, *subabool* (*leucaena leucocephala*). Again >>> quick-growing reaching its full height of about 8 metres in about 3 years. >>> It was earlier known as koobabool. Then somebody convinced Mrs. Gandhi (the >>> original) of its virtues. It is nutritious for the cattle. However, it has >>> also faded into oblivion as otherwise it hardly has any use. >>> >>> There is only one success story of silviculture of Indian forestry. And >>> that is Teak. The efforts to propagate the stately shaal (shorea robusta) >>> under whose shade Sidddhartha or Gautam Buddha was born, have been a >>> miserable failure. Anyway it is time to think of relying on local varieties >>> instead of directly lifting some from abroad which may ultimately prove to >>> be not so adaptable or not so useful. >>> >>> >>> >>> Here I would also mention two garden trees which are unbelievably >>> beautiful flowering trees, pride of any large or mid-sized garden. They are >>> Chinese Bauhinia (*Bauhinia blakeana* ) and *Chorisia speciosa*. B. >>> balakeana is a sterile tree so it can only be propagated by cutting. This >>> was discovered by the English in Hongkong from a house in ruins. It must >>> have been brought by the Bristish. The second is a treat to the eyes which >>> has been planted in plenty in the rooudaboouts of New Delhi. This has been >>> brought after Independence from South America. Though it is not directly >>> connected with our topic but I could not resist mentioning them! >>> >>> >>> >>> *** *** *** *** >>> *** *** >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ~~~~~~~ >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 2:15 PM, Yogesh Pathak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Hello all, >>>> >>>> I think in the campaign to reduce non-native trees and grow natives, >>>> its quite important for the common man to know which trees are non- >>>> natives. Does anyone here have a list of these destructive, self- >>>> multiplying non-natives, ideally along with pictures (say close-ups of >>>> leaves for identification). >>>> >>>> Such lists / leaflets should be distributed en masse to schools, >>>> housing societies etc, so that they don't blindly plant the non- >>>> natives. We see such planting happening practically everywhere in our >>>> urban areas. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Yogesh >>>> Gwalior. 474 005. >>>> Tele: 0751-247 2233. Mobile 0 94253 09780. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
