Daily Archives: July 10, 2014

Tree turmeric on the last leg

Agriculture
The seeds (inset) of the creeper tree turmeric on a huge tree in the Western Ghats. Photo: Special Arrangement
The seeds (inset) of the creeper tree turmeric on a huge tree in the Western Ghats. Photo: Special Arrangement

A survey conducted by KFRI could record only 33 mature plants

Tree turmeric, a rare medicinal plant, is clinging for dear life through a few mature plants in the Western Ghats.

A recent survey along the habitats of the species, known as Mara Manjal in local parlance, could record only 33 mature plants.

The survey by the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur, revealed that the plant was surviving in less than 10 habitats across the Kerala region of the ghats. Though distributed across the Indo-Malesian tropical rainforests, its habitat has shrunken to a few patches, said P. Sujanapal, a scientist at the institute.

In Kerala, they are found at Meenchalali in Sholayar, Pezha in Parambikulam, Madambra-Kozhikuthu area in Vazhachal range, Kannadivechakunnu, Paripputhode in Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Ambayathode- Palchuram area in the Kottiyur reserve forests. The survey was conducted for the National Medicinal Plant Board for restoring plants in its natural habitats.

Though the researchers could count 615 individuals, 514 were seedlings with bleak survival chances. The 33 ‘adult individuals’ had grown to achieve more than 10 cm in diameter. Among them, only two had fruits, Dr. Sujanapal said.

The climber (Coscinium fenestratum) is a valuable ingredient in a number of traditional medical systems of India, including Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, and the medicial systems of Cambodia and Vietnam.

Berberine, a chemical extracted from the plant, is used in modern medicine and dye industry. Its wood with broad spectrum antiseptic properties is used to treat liver ailments, ulcers, and wounds.

It grows in moist shady and semi-rocky habitats under canopy, near streams. Habitat destruction and uprooting of plants had resulted in the depletion of number and size of the population. Destructive harvesting and the dioecious nature (a species with distinct male and female individuals) had also hit seed production, he said.

“Vegetative reproduction is being tried considering the issue of obtaining seeds. Ground layering and air layering are being tried in individuals of the species at the Meenchalali forest area in the Sholayar range and the Kulamavu area of the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary.”

The national project plants to restore at least 10,000 seedlings of the species in its natural habitats with the support of the Forest Department, Dr. Sujanapal said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Cities> Kochi / by  K. C. Sudhi / Kochi – July 10th, 2014

When Basheer’s women met each other

Arts,Culture & Entertainment
A scene from the solo docudrama ‘Soja Rajakumari,’ featuring 10 female characters from Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s novels, staged at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan in the city on Saturday. / Photo:S. Gopakumar / The Hindu
A scene from the solo docudrama ‘Soja Rajakumari,’ featuring 10 female characters from Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s novels, staged at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan in the city on Saturday. / Photo:S. Gopakumar / The Hindu

They were all living their sometimes magical, sometimes sad, and, at other times, quirky lives inside the pages of different books.

That was until Saturday evening, when ten of Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s memorable female characters came together at the koothambalam inside Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan to commemorate 20 years of the Beypore Sultan’s passing.

Soja Rajakumari, a solo docudrama directed by P.C. Hareesh, took back viewers to the time when they read each of those classics.

The first to arrive was Sainaba from Mucheetukalikkarante Makal, who engaged the audience in some friendly banter, at times touching upon even the rising prices.

The drama was so structured that the audience was very much a part all through, although things could have livened up a bit more had there been a glimmer of a response when the characters tried to involve them.

Bhargavikutti from Neelavelicham arrived in typical ghostly fashion, appearing first on a swing outside the koothambalam. If not for the posse of photographers around her, that would have been a bit more eerie. This being the 50th anniversary year of Bhargavi Nilayam, much of the drama’s time was put aside for Bhargavi, in sequences interspersed with songs and dialogues from the film.

Then there was a sequence between Suhara from Balyakalasakhi and Kunjipathumma fromNtuppuppakkoraanandarunnu. Kunjipathumma’s mother Kunjithachumma too peeked in for a minute. Pathumma from Pathummayude Aadu played out one of the famous conversations with her brother, the author himself, asking him to buy her ornaments.

Jameela Beevi from Poovanpazham took audience interaction to another level by actually distributing plantain to members of the crowd as she was exiting the stage.

Saramma from Pranayalekhanam remembered the classic love letter from Keshavan Nair while Devi from Kamukante Diary laid claim for being the writer’s true love.

The drama ended by reminding us of the pain of Narayani from Mathilukal.

Pooja K.Nair, a ninth grade student of Guruvayur Little Flower Convent High School, switched seamlessly from one character to the other and garnered the crowd’s applause.

The docudrama was staged by the Nataka Padana Kendram, Kozhikode.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by S. R. Parveen / Thiruvananthapuram – July 06th, 2014