Turk’s Turban is a tall shrub with long, narrow, pointed, oleander-like leaves that grows wild throughout India along roadsides, cultivated areas and near human dwellings. Caterpillars of the common silverline butterfly and Death’s Head Hawkmoth feed on these plants. The roots and leaves are used in Ayurveda medicines. Continue reading
Zinnia flowers are commonly naturalized in the Western Ghats of India. These flowers are popular for their beautiful and wide range of attractive colors. In Kerala, these are commonly grown as ornamental flowers in home and butterfly gardens.
Native to Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of India, Spiral Ginger is a gregarious herb seen along sheltered gravelly slopes in warm, moist, forested regions. This succulent herb has leaves growing spirally around the stem and flowers year-round. The rhizome of the plant is used in ayurvedic medicine.
The Nutmeg Tree is an evergreen aromatic which usually grows up to a height of 15-20 meters. Nutmeg and mace are two distinctly different spices produced from the same tree- the nutmeg being the actual interior nut, while mace is the red lacy covering beneath the outer shell. Although it is now cultivated throughout most of the south Indian states, the tree is a native of Moluccas, an island in the Indonesian archipelago. It thrives in hot and moist climates at low elevations.
The Black Eyed Susan vine is native to tropical countries and naturalized in India. The twiner is often seen among hedges as well as on the ground. The leaf paste of this plant is used in traditional medicine. It is commonly grown in gardens, plains and hills.
Rock Balsam is native to Peninsular India. It grows widely in the Western Ghats, occurring in small or large clusters in the hills up to 800 – 2400 meters on wet rock faces. The lavender flowers are showy and stand out daintily from the rounded heart-shaped leaves.
Dhobi’s Kerchief is native to the Western Ghats, thriving in forested hilly tracts. Although the shrub flowers during mid- monsoon and early winter, the white bracts may be seen on the plant throughout the year. Its leaves and fruits are used in traditional medicines, and the shrub is the food plant for the commander butterfly.
Marigold is a tropical plant found widely throughout south India. The beautiful flowers are mainly cultivated for commercial purpose as temples offerings. It comes in different colors, yellow and orange being the most common. This flowers has a strong pungent odor that is not only used in cosmetics and herbal medicines but in gardening as a natural pest deterrent.
Located on the southern tip of the Deccan plateau, Wayanad is packed with scenic beauty. The region includes sub-tropical savannahs, thickly wooded hills, evergreen forests, rolling paddy fields in the valleys and verdant spice plantations in the heights. Blasted by wind and lashed by rain, Wayanad spreads across 2,132 square kms of the lofty Western Ghats and is recognised for its biodiversity. Continue reading
Kerala is one of the leading producers of coconut in the world, producing thirteen billion nuts per annum. Not only is the tree an iconic fixture of the Kerala landscape dotted with green palms and their swaying fronds but this tree is an integral part of the state economy. Numerous products and by-products are derived from all parts of the tree, providing food, shelter and fuel, as well as the raw material for various local crafts. Not surprisingly, in Malayalmam this multi-faceted tree is known as kalpakavriksham or the “Tree of Life”.
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the north of Kerala near Kannur. It is one of the state’s smallest wildlife sanctuaries, with an area of just 55 square kilometers. It makes up for its small size with a privileged location on the western slopes of the Western Ghats, an area famous for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Aralam fauna includes mammals such as elephant, bison, deer, wild boar, jungle cats and leopards. Additionally a wide variety of flora is also found in the evergreen areas of this sanctuary.
Moottil pazham trees are found only inside the semi-evergreen forest. This unusual tree bears fruits only on the lower part of the trunk, clustered around its base in bunches. The edible portion of the fruits are hard and turn from reddish brown to pink as they ripen. They fruits are a favourite food for forest dwelling tortoise. Continue reading
From my recent trip to Switzerland in early June, I took numerous photos of flowers. As my family and I hiked up the Alpine mountains, I was completely taken in by these flowers covered and surrounded by icy snow. This is a story of Alpine flowers.
p.s. Because I am not a flower expert, identifying the names of flowers was a challenging task for me. Thus, I welcome any feedback and hope everybody can help me finish identifying flower names! 🙂
Burnet Rose / Rosa spinosissima
Cassia is a tropical plant native to India and Sri Lanka prevalent in the Western Ghats. It is a popular ornamental throughout Kerala due to its year round blooms.
Jamaican blue spike is a tropical plant, naturalized in India and Srilanka. These plants are common in the Western Ghats of India, growing widely along stream banks and road sides as well as cultivated gardens. The flowers bloom year round, making them an attractive food source for butterflies, moths and other pollinators.
Poinsettia flowers are a very common ornamental plant naturalized in the Western Ghats of India. These flowers are popularly used during the Christmas season to decorate churches and homes. In Kerala, it is cultivated for this use.
Bougainvillea flowers are very common and popular in the Western Ghats of India. This beautiful plant thrives in both dry and humid climates, making them a popular ornamental in numerous parts of the world. The flowers attract butterflies and other nectar eating insects and birds, as well as being the food plants for moth as well. In Kerala local people grow bougainvillea at home as it is a pest-free plant with a color palette for any garden.
Cosmos are naturalized all over the Western Ghats of India. These flowers are a feast for pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Their frequent use as an ornamental in the gardens of Kerala indicate their popularity among people as well!
White hibiscus is a small shrub which normally grows to a height of 15-20 feet commonly naturalized in the Western Ghats of India. This single white flower blooms throughout the year and is slightly fragrant. In Kerala, it is mainly grown in homes and spice gardens as an ornamental plant.
Spiral ginger is an herbal plant which is naturalized in India’s Western Ghats. The entire plant has medicinal properties which is mainly used in curing skin diseases. The oil extract from the roots is directly applied on the affected area. The fragrance of the plant is like ginger and hence bears the name. Continue reading
Organikos 