Dear Sibdas, Thank you for this. I remember reading that the Mughal emperors prior to Aurangzeb enjoyed pineapples: in fact, it was the favourite fruit of one, I think Akbar. Well, pineapple, too, is exotic, as is chikoo and the custard apples (Ramphal and Sitaphal). Maybe one of them introduced Opuntia to India. So, much must have happened before the British started documenting and experimenting with introducing exotic plants all over the world...
On Feb 25, 5:42 pm, "J.M. Garg" <[email protected]> wrote: > Here is a reply from Sibdas ji: > "W. Roxburgh (1832), the father of Indian Botany . > considered the plant as native of India, as it was recorded from Cape > Camorin to the Himalayas, upto 1500 meters, but later James (?) Watt, > a Professor of Botany attached to Calcutta Medical College, Presidency > College and also Patna Medical College, who was also a friend of > Florence Nigtingale, in 1882, claimed the plant as native of latin > America. If it comes from America, it must have reached India by the > 17th Century, as by 1832 it had been widely naturalised all over > India." > > 2009/2/16 Peter <[email protected]> > > > > > Ashwin's message below reminds me of something I read in a history > > book. It seems that Tipu Sultan used to surround his forts with a wide > > hedge of cactus. This was, naturally, prior to 1799. It struck me that > > the species must be the prickly pear, Opuntia, which is origially from > > Central America and now naturalised in India. Well, it seems that it > > has be around here for a pretty long time! Does anyone have any idea > > of when this plant was brought to India? > > -- > 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
