Spinach Flower
Red Malabar Spinach is an annual flowering plant , famous for its leaves in vegetable dishes. Fresh spinach is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C and other essential minerals and it is very low in calories. These plants are widely growing in and around Kerala where it is locally called Cheera. Continue reading
Sandalwood (santalum album) is a small evergreen tree that can grow up to 15 metres high. This hemiparasitic tree (feeding off the roots of other plants) is found widely in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, although is considered threatened in many parts of the world. Continue reading
We previously mentioned this book here. Sometimes you cannot get enough of a good thing.
The Red Silk Cotton is a fast growing tree growing widely in the Western Ghats forest areas. These trees can reach a height of 35-40 meters, and bear large red-orange flowers from December to March. The timber of the tree is very soft and used for making plywood and match boxes. Continue reading
The Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of India’s most famous wildlife sanctuaries. Periyar was declared a Forest Reserve in the late 19th centuary, a Wildlife Sanctuary in the 1930s and a Tiger Reserve in 1977. This land of emerald vistas, productive grasslands, orchid-studded rain forests, moss-laden trees and dripping ferns provide food and shelter to mammals, including Elephants, Tigers, Dholes, Leopards, and Wild gaur, as well as birds, amphibians and insects.
Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the richest biodiversity pockets in the Western Ghats. Of nearly 4500 known flowering plants in the region, as many as 2000 species have been reported from Periyar itself. One fourth of these species are endemic to Southern Western Ghats.
East Indian Klugia (Rhynchoglossum notonianum) is an annual herb which is commonly growing on hilly slopes in the Western Ghats above 900 metres. The flowers are a deep, rich blue and hang downwards. Continue reading
Kokam is endemic to the tropical evergreen forest of the Western Ghats and the Malabar coast. It is a slender tree with drooping branches and edible seeds. A member of the mangosteen family, the fruit ripens from green to orange-yellow, and when dried for use in cooking it assumes a near black colour. It has a sour taste with an underlying astringency.
Bottle Brush is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family of Myrtaceae that grows widely in the high ranges of Kerala. This is an decorative plant famous for its cylindrical flowers and the lovely fragrance of its leaves. Continue reading
Curry Leaf is a small deciduous tree that grows profusely all over the India. It has been part of Kerala cuisine from the dawn of civilization. It is impossible to describe the aroma and flavour of curry leaves, but it helps define the sensory experience of an India market. Continue reading
These trees are very common in the moist deciduous forest of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, widely growing up to 850 meters in South Indian forests. These trees bloom from August to December with flowers that are white in colour and turn to red as they fruit.
Roses are elegant and also nostalgically shaped blooms that have an almost magical attraction. The rose is one of the oldest cultivated plants, and also richest in mythology. The fact that they bloom throughout the year makes these flowers a common sight in the gardens of the High Ranges.
Gomphrena globosa, also known as Globe Amaranth or commonly called Bachelor Button, is an annual plant widely growing in and around the gardens of Kerala’s high ranges. The compact and colourful flowers brighten the landscape and are used for fresh-cut and dried floral arrangements.
Chilies are an important food ingredient for all Indian recipes, especially in South Indian curries. They are commonly cultivating throughout India, although the fruit itself originated in the Americas and only spread eastward in the Columbian Exchange. They are now an important part of cuisines across the globe.
Rosa Sympathie has double, dark red elegant flowers with a velvet appearance with strong, glossy green leaves. These roses are common in the gardens of the High-Ranges and bloom throughout the year.
Dwarf White Bauhinia is a garden growing plant that can grow up to 2 meters in height. Its flowers are rich in pollen and nectar that attract various insects such as butterflies, moths and bees. It is also one of the host plants for many butterflies species and the larvas of certain moth species feed on the flowers.
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Part of the Nilgiri biosphere, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an area of 344.44 square kilometres formed by two discontinuous pockets, Muthunga in the south and Tholpetty in the North. Nearly one third of the area is covered by plantations of Teak, Rosewood, Silver oak and eucalyptus.The rest is covered with Bamboo groves, moist deciduous and semi- evergreen forests. The sanctuary boasts a rich fauna, with elephants and deer the most commonly sighted.
The Margaret Merril Rose is pearly white with a delicate blush of pink and brown stamens. The delicate double cup-shaped flowers are grown world wide due to their famously strong scent. In Kerala these roses are most common in the High Ranges, seen in gardens and parks.
Marigold is a long lasting bloomer bearing numerous single, yellow to orange flowers on each stem. It is commonly found in the high ranges of Kerala, but grows throughout India. These flowers are mainly used for garlands, Temple offerings and medicinal purposes.
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