beautiful pictures Ushadi. Specially the third picture reminded me of some beautiful lamps in a row Regards Bhagyashri
On Tue, Sep 6, 2011 at 12:19 PM, ushadi Micromini <[email protected] > wrote: > Dear ALL: > > A very interesting plant, I was drawn to it for the photography challenges > it provided, my first Ulat Kambal was growing among a group of very > large, very unwieldy Aloes with their sharp leaf ends… AND the process > of fertilized ovary growing to face up towards the sky is very very > intriguing to say the least…. Process involves part of the twig growing > larger longer cells so that pedicle of the flower can do a 180 degrees > twist… Almost similar to the insectivorous plants’ trap closing mechanism….. > > > Abroma augusta L. > > Syn : Ambroma augustum; > > Abroma augustum ( seems to be currently preferred name ) > > Abroma augusta L. ( name seems ingrained in Medicine, > Ethnobotany > books and Homeopathic remedies ) > > Bengali name: Ulat Kambal: ওলঢ কঁবল > > No Sanskrit name, In Hindi called ULTA Kambal > > No Gujarati name…. In the past not grown nor used in Gujarat… DON’T > KNOW if currently its being grown all over India or not, what with rapid > dissemination of Knowledge and gardening enthusiasts… > > > It is also not mentioned by Shushruta or Charak…. Bapalal Vaidya says it > grows in the NE Himalayan range and nearby states, and in the past was > rarely seen in the western jungles. > > > > > Taxon: Abroma augustum (L.) L. f. > > Genus: Abroma > > Family: Malvaceae > > subfamily: Byttnerioideae > > tribe: Byttnerieae. Also placed in: Sterculiaceae *** > > > > > > Date/Time- Several Years while studying Ethnobotany, 2007 till present, > Pics are from during these years… > > > > Location- Place, Altitude, GPS- Kolkata Horticulture Gardens Sea level or > 2-3 feet below sea level > > > > Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type- Cultivated, Herb Garden….I have also > seen it cultivated at Jute Research Institute Grounds, Ballygunj Circular > Road, Kolkata, and in private Gardens of Individuals > > > > Plant Habit- Tree/ Shrub/ Climber/ Herb- Shrub, > > > > Height/Length- Most I have seen is about 10 feet tall. > > > > Leaves Type/ Shape/ Size- Younger leaves Sagittate , older lower leaves > are Palmate > > > > Inflorescence Type/ Size- Individual flowers Hanging face down > > Flowers Size/ Colour/ Calyx/ Bracts- 4 to 6 cms across brownish-violet > mixed color > > > > Fruits Type/ Shape/ Size Seeds- Seeds are less than a mm wide, black… > covered with thick beige brown hairs.. but do not help seeds fly far…. > It seems the tuft remain in the seed pods and seeds fall off or are eaten … > Seeds pods/ fruits are 5 to 7 cms across and 1 – 3 cms deep. > > > > > > Other Information like Fragrance, Pollinator, Uses etc.- > > Do not know, but see figure 6 for some insect guests… WOULD LIKE TO > KNOW the names of these beetles if possible… they seemed very busy…. > > > > USES: Medicinal: Used for Dysmenorrhoea . and in postpartum complaints. > Homeopathy: for Bronchitis, Diabetes, and Dysmeorrhoea. Main ingredient > is *ß-sitosterol .* > > > > *** source of confusion, finally saw this at USDA Germplasm Resources > Information Network (GRIN) site > > URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?101879 (06 > September 2011) > > Thanks > > > > Usha di >
