Marsh Glory is a semi aquatic plant found commonly in marshy, water logged places of the India’s Western Ghats and hence the name ‘Marsh Glory’. The plant grows in water as well as in moist soil with hollow stems and branching, bulbous roots. Continue reading
The Peacock flower is a tropical to sub-tropical plant found commonly in the Western Ghats of India. It has a lot of similarities with the Gulmohar tree and hence one can often mistakenly identify one for the other. Continue reading
Football Lily (also known as Blood Lily) is a beautiful flowering bulb naturalized in the Western Ghats of India. This exceptional flower starts to bloom in the spring and summer, coming out of the ground with no leaves. The plant is a popular ornamental due to its exuberant blossom. Local people also call this May flower as it blooms in plenty during the month of May. Continue reading
These pictures were taken in the area of Periyar where one can find these hilly mangoes in plenty. Mangoes have grown for more than 4,000 years in India. Hilly mangoes are widely used in making pickles instead of being eaten as fruits. Mangoes require a tropical or subtropical, frost-free climate. Flowers Continue reading
I have found this butterfly inside the core area of Periyar near Thannikudi- a wireless station situated to the northern side of the reserve. This butterfly is confined to the cool moist forests of the Western Ghats. It visits flowers as well as damp patches. Continue reading
Cassia alata is an erect tropical, annual herb with leathery compounded leaves found in the Western Ghats of India. The plant grows quickly to a height of 6-12 ft and can live for many years. It has waxy yellow spikes on the tip of each branch for which reason they are also known by the name candle bush and seven golden candle sticks. The spikes elongates as the period of blossom progresses. Flowers are pollinated by carpenter bees and caterpillars of migrating butterflies feed on this plant. Continue reading
Endemic to the Western Ghats of South India, the Malabar Raven butterfly is common in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Despite their rounded wing shapes, these medium sized black-brownish tailless butterfly are in the swallowtail family. Continue reading
The lime tree is a spiny evergreen shrub found in plenty in the Western Ghats of India. Limes are typically round, green, with leathery leaves and fragrant white flowers. They are rich in vitamin C and often used to add more taste to the flavors of Indian food and beverages like lime water, lime juice, etc.
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Coffee plantations are found in the Western Ghats of Southern India on hills and misty mountains ranging from an elevation of 800m – 1500m above sea level. The coffee flowering season is a spectacle to be experienced. It looks like a pale jewel glittering in the crown of the coffee plant. The white blossoms have a beautiful scent which attracts honeybees, butterflies and other pollinators.
The Periyar Nature Walk gives visitors the opportunity to explore the dense Periyar wilderness, enjoying nature, sighting wildlife, hearing the rustle of wind and smelling the wild blossoms. The trek often passes through evergreen and moist deciduous forest interspersed with marshy grasslands. Continue reading
Red Star Glory is an annual twining plant with bright scarlet flowers found in the Western Ghats of India that appears as the monsoon trails off. Its scientific name is Ipomoea hederifolia but it is also known by the names Scarlet creeper, Scarlet Morning Glory and Star Ipomea. The plant grows vigorously to a height of 10 ft. with elongated heart shaped leaves with pointed tips. Continue reading
The 1000 year old Mangala Devi Temple is a good example of the traditional architectural style of South India. It is situated on the northern boundary of the Periyar Tiger Reserve 1400m above sea level. Continue reading
Ixora coccinea is an ornamental, multi-branched, evergreen shrub found in the Western ghats of India which grows 4-5 ft tall and can reach the height of 12 ft. It is also known by the names Flame of the woods and Jungle flame. The plant has oblong glossy leaves and small bright orange to scarlet flowers that grow in dense rounded clusters 2-5 in in size. Continue reading
Oranges are one of the most popular of the world’s fruit. It flourishes in warm climates across the globe and the many varieties of oranges vary from sweet to sour. The tree is a sub-tropical evergreen that can reach up to 30-40 ft tall with thorny shoots and waxy 2-4 inch long leaves . Continue reading
Salvia scarlet sage is a shrubby, ornamental plant with scarlet red flowers and symmetrical leaves growing commonly in India’s Western Ghats. It is widely cultivated as a bedding plant in many countries. Continue reading
This perennial tropical plant with an aromatic rhizome grows up to 5-6 feet tall. The plant belongs to the ginger family where the rhizomes are used for medicinal purpose. It has oblong, smooth leaves and fragrant, greenish white flowers.
Bonnet macaques are found only in South India, occupying wet lowland to dry deciduous forest, up to a height of 2100 m. They are usually quite sociable and are seen mostly in groups.
This photograph was taken near Kumily close to the lower Camp road side by Mr. Shaji. Bonnet macaques of this area mostly seem to be waiting for travelers passing by in hopes of getting some food or fruits from them. Visitors usually feed them to watch the macaques eat and their funny facial expressions, but actually this is a mistake for both animals and people, and should be discouraged.
This flower is the white variety of the Malabar Plum (Rose Apple) which is medium sized, tropical flowering tree that grows up to 15 meters high. This is the flowering season (March to May) for this tropical plant which yields white colored rose apple fruit.
Mr. Manu from Cochin was a recent guest at Cardamom County from 28 April 2012 to 29 April 2012. He has shared some of his excellent photography with us from his visit to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Queen flower is a small to medium sized tropical flowering tree growing to a height of 20mts, native to southern India and the Philippines. It has smooth rounded leaves and beautiful lavender flowers which will add beauty to any landscape.
Organikos 