Me Sahyadri December 2016

As the economic development has taken the center stage, the balance between the environmental sustenance and socio economic development will be under the scanner. As most experts with balanced views have proclaimed, Indian wildlife and ecological system sustenance will be under threat, unless precautions are taken with the help of appropriate research and long term national interests. As we encounter the economic development, many habitats which indirectly or directly help sustainable development will be damaged. The awareness to gauge the success by sustainable development and not by year to year growth is a distant dream any environmentalist will assume in current scenario.
Western ghats, or Sahyadri as we all call it as, is a treasure trove of spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, flora, fauna, some amazing geological wonders and man made monuments. With the increasing pressure from human encroachment, all these elements are under stress and in turn are under depletion. Western ghats should be left untouched by human beings, to protect their future generations from getting short of resources, such as water, energy and clean air. The important elements of western ghats, which need protection are highlighted in the new version of Photo journal, Me Sahyadri Magazine. The current issue has few of the flora from the north Western Ghats.

Habenaria brachyphylia is a terrestrial orchid. It is called as Thick Leaved Habenaria english. The plant is called as दोपत्ती हबेअमरी Dopatti habe-amri in Marathi. The thick Leaved Habenaria is a terrestrial orchid which is about 20-55 cm tall. It is found in the Western Ghats. Creamy white, fragrant flowers are borne in an upright many-flowered raceme which stands on a 15-35 cm long stalk. The flowers are about 7-8 mm wide. The flower is prominently three lobed. The plant flowers in August to September period. The plant can be seen on grasslands in north western ghats.

Impatiens balsamina is a common plant in India, known as garden balsam or rose balsam in common english. The plant is called as तेरडा, Terada in marathi. The plant grows to the height of 25 cm to 1 meter. The flowers are pink, red or white, The flowers are 3 to 5 cm in size. The name of the genus impatiens is based on the phenomenon of the ripe seed capsules of this plant exploding if touched. The plant is common in western ghats and in south east asia. He flowers are pollinated by bees, insects and nectar feeding birds.

Peristylus densus, commonly known as Dense Peristylus is a medium sized, terrestrial orchid The plant has an erect stem with 2-3, tubular, basal sheaths and carrying 4-6, widely spaced, ovate, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, pointed to long-pointed leaves. The plant blooms. Dense Peristylus is found in eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats and south east Asia, in seasonal evergreen and pine forests and moist grasslands at elevations of 300-2100 m. The plant flowers in May to October. In western ghats the plant flowers in August-October, and can be seen on the moist grasslands

Utricularia plants are commonly called as bladderwort plants.The important part of any bladderwort plant is beneath the surface of soil. The prominent flowering stem can be seen above the ground. This plant has long branching network of stems beneath the surface. The small bladder traps and leaves are attached to these stems. The word utricularia is derived from latin word utriculus. It means a small wine bottle. This small bag or a bladder has a opening which is sealed. The bladder has external secrations to attract the small organisms. The bladder or a small bag has tiny hair like structures, which act as a trigger to open the seals of the bladder. If the trigger is actuated, the small bladders are filled with water as the seals of the bladder are opened. With the water small organisms such as protozoa enter the bladder. This is a process which happenes in a split second. Once inside the prey is dissolved due to digestive enzymes secreted by the plant. The water is slowly pumped out of the bladder, creating the vacuum inside. Inspite of vacuum the bladder does not collapse. The water is pumped out by osmosis process, through the thin membranes of the bladder. Once the pumping stops due to osmosis, the seals open. As the seals open, the water enters inside due to the vacuum generated. This process continues in cycles. It is said that these plants have the most sophisticated trapping mechanism among all the carnivorous plants.

Pleocaulus ritchie is called as Topli karvi in Marathi. The plant is shaped semispherical and is low on the ground. The plant blossoms once in seven to eight years, Such flowering phenomenon is called as Mast seeding. The intermittent production of large seed crops by population of plants is called as Mast seeding. This phenomenon is seen in some long lived plants which are less affected by the cost of not reproducing in some years. The plants are pollinated by various grassbirds, honey bees and insects. These plants are often seen on the edge of the Deccan plateau at higher altitudes, both on baslat as well as lateritic plateaus.

Indigofera linifolia is a much branched plant with narrow leaves. It is known as Narrowleaf Indigo in common english. The plant is known as लाल गोधडी Lal godhadi in Marathi and is known as रत्नमाला Ratnamala, रतनजोत Ratanjot in Hindi. The has red flowers which are 4 to 8 mm in size. The plant can be seen all across north western ghat rocky plateaus.

Dipcadi ursulae is a small plant seen on lateritic plaetaus in western ghats, India, known as Ursula’s dipcadi in common english. The plant is called as Dipkadi in marathi. The plant grows to the height of 15 cm to 25 cm. The flowers are yellowish white, The flowers are 10 to 15 mm in size. The plant is threatened species and is endemic to western ghats. The plant flowers in August to October season.