Beautiful pics Ushadi Ji On Tue, Sep 6, 2011 at 3:31 PM, Madhuri Raut <[email protected]> wrote:
> 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 >> > > -- Regards Dr Balkar Singh Head, Deptt. of Botany and Biotechnology Arya P G College, Panipat Haryana-132103 09416262964
