Usha di, *Pterolobium hexapetalum* is one of the dominant species in the scrub jungles and foothills. The plants, with their copiously prickled arching branches, form thick and impenetrable cover on the floor, over rocks and also on other bushes and small trees. In such forests, the botanists (and sometimes goats), used to/ have to create our way among these scrubs. Whatever direction we step forward, the branches with the hooked prickles that face all directions, will surely hold our clothes and skin from moving forward. We have to stop, keep a few steps back in the same position to get rid of the prickles that has already made scratches on skin and has given a furry appearance to the clothes. And, one will encounter this situation few to several times a day depend on forest type. Its obvious to get scratches all over the skin and bleeding and pains are normal and expected during the battle against these terrors, especially if you don't want to miss exploring such forests. Of course, not all the scrub forests are like this, at the same time there are forests fully dominated by this species. My study area has plenty of them! Its difficult and time-consuming to cut the branches and clear the way.
So the name "Traveler's Terror"! But, the flowers are really very beautiful and pleasantly fragrant :) You can see swarm of bees around during flowering. Fruits are also attractive looking! What a combination! Regards Vijayasankar Raman National Center for Natural Products Research University of Mississippi On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 10:15 AM, ushadi Micromini < [email protected]> wrote: > Vijaya > wonder why? > > Usha di > > On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 7:58 PM, Vijayasankar <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Agree with Swamy ji's id. >> It is commonly known as "Traveler's terror"! >> >> Regards >> >> Vijayasankar Raman >> National Center for Natural Products Research >> University of Mississippi >> >> >> >> On Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 5:39 AM, jmgarg1 <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Forwarding again for Id confirmation or otherwise please. >>> >>> >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>> From: M Swamy <[email protected]> >>> Date: 10 September 2012 18:20 >>> Subject: [efloraofindia:129633] Re: ID No. MS 110912-100- Pterolobium >>> hexapetalum >>> To: efloraofindia <[email protected]> >>> Cc: >>> >>>> >>>> Attaching herewith photographs of a shrub , most probably, Pterolobium >>>> hexapetalum .Photos taken at Kanaka giri hillsl Karnataka on 10.9.1*2. >>>> * ID confirmation requested. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> With regards, >>> J.M.Garg >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 >>> 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' >>> The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a *thousand species*& >>> eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged >>> alphabetically & place-wise): >>> http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg. You can also use >>> them for free as per Creative Commons license attached with each image. >>> For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian >>> Flora, please visit/ join our Efloraofindia Google e-group: >>> http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix (more than 1950 members >>> & 1,27,800 messages on 31/8/12) or Efloraofindia website: >>> https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/ (with a species database >>> of more than 7000 species). >>> Also author of 'A Photoguide to the Birds of Kolkata & Common Birds of >>> India'. >>> >>> >> -- >> >> >> >> > > > > -- > Usha di > =========== > > --
