The most useful plants on earth.

Grasses are very important for survival of not only of animals but also for humans. Rice, wheat, barley, maize, jowar, bajra, oat and many more grains, which are staple diet of humans all over the world, are of grass family. Sugarcane also is a grass. But one plant among the grasses, which surpasses all other grasses in utility, is Bamboo. It is estimated that there are around 1000 varieties of bamboo. There are dwarf as well as giant bamboos.

Bamboo plants are perhaps fastest growing plants on the earth. One species of a bamboo grows about 4 feet high in a day; it means it grows about 2 inches per hour. Bamboo plants are very resilient to diseases and pests. Due to their growth pattern of spreading their rhizomes horizontally underground, they help in preventing soil erosion. They are fast regenerating plants. They are used as fodder. Elephants love to feed on young shoots of bamboo. For Giant Panda bamboo is the main source of food. It is reported that in comparison to other plants with equal density of foliage, bamboo produces 35% more Oxygen.

Musical instrument flute was discovered by humans from the sweet sounds which emitted from hollow stems of the bamboo. One name for flute is 'बन्सी/बांसुरी'. In Sanskrit bamboo is called as 'वंश' and 'बांस' is the name in Hindi. So other name of flute in Hindi is 'बांसुरी'.

Bamboo has certain medicinal properties. 'वंशलोचन' which is also called as 'तबाशीर' (Bamboo Manna) is a siliceous resin exuded by bamboo. It is used in Unani and in Ayurvedic medicines. Tender bamboo shoots are used as vegetable but due to their toxicity they are shredded finely and soaked in water overnight to remove the toxic elements. Beautiful and durable furniture is made from bamboo. Unlike many other timbers bamboo can be bent with heat treatment. Bamboos are also widely used for construction. Even today bamboo scaffoldings are used in building construction, repairs and painting. Main raw material for paper making is bamboo. Many utility items like baskets for vegetables and for transporting poultry birds bamboo comes very handy. Bamboo is a most versatile natural material for handicrafts. I feel there is no other plant on earth which can compete with bamboo to provide livelihood to humans. Recently fabric is also made from bamboo. This fabric is supposed to be thermo-friendly; that is, it keeps cool in summer and warm in winter.

Bamboo stems which are above ground are called as 'Culm'. The culm has no normal leaves but has a modified leaf in form of a sheath. This sheath provides protection and support to newly forming shoot. As the culm grows, the sheath is shed. Only lateral branches of bamboo have normal foliage.

Golden bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris), Buddha belly bamboo (Bambusa ventricosa), Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), Male bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus ), Japanese dwarf bamboo (Bambusa multiplex) are some of the species found in Indian gardens and in parks. Gloden bamboo has golden colored culms with green streaks. Buddha belly bamboo is swollen stem between the nodes like sausages. Culms of black bamboo are deep purplish and look almost black. Male bamboo is almost solid with a very narrow hollow portion. Giant bamboo has very tall and huge culms. This bamboo is also used for making utensils. It is reported that rice cooked in the bamboo utensil has some special flavor. Japanese dwarf bamboo is very useful in a garden to make topiaries and also for screening purpose. Bamboo is also used for making trellis, arches and gazebo for growing creepers. In Himalayan range there is a most beautiful bamboo, of which culms are blue in colour. It is called as "Himalayan Blue Mountain Bamboo", scientifically known as Borinda boliana. There is a cute and dainty bamboo creeper also.

Bamboo plants flower only once in their life time. Depending upon the species, they produce mass flowering after certain age; after which they die a natural death. But before they die, they shed millions of seeds which grow to replace the dead plants. Many rodents are attracted to eat the fallen seeds. Humans also feed on these rodents. Bamboo plants can be propagated by division, stem cuttings and from seeds (only when available).

Finally in Hindus their last journey also is on a stretcher made of bamboo.

Star Apple tree (Chrysophyllum cainito)

Star Apple tree, commonly known as 'Chrysophyllum cainito' is a very beautiful, evergreen and medium size tree. Though it is not native to India, it has been naturalized in India. The tree is also known as Cainito, Caimito, Golden leaf tree, Milk fruit and Estrella. In Fort area of Mumbai, many beautiful specimens existed at one time; but due to road widening some have disappeared and some are trimmed badly.

Sapling in a park

Golden underside of leaves

The tree grows to about 15 meters high with very dense foliage. Slightly leathery leaves are dark green and glossy with the underside having brownish-golden colour. The trunk is rough. It is comparatively slow growing tree. This tree bears flowers and fruit between January to April. Flowers are mildly scented. The ripe fruit is edible and supposed to be very tasty. The rind is tough and is not edible. The rind has also milky sap which should not be ingested. The fruit when cut shows star-like formation, hence it is called as Star apple. The fruit and some parts of the tree are supposed to have medicinal properties.

Cainito tree in Fort area of Mumbai

Trunk of the tree

Flowers

Fruit

This tree belongs to Sapotaceae family, to which Chiku or Sapota also belongs.

Red Amaranth (लाल माठ, लाल चौलाई)

Red Amaranth (Lal math, Lal Chowlai) is very popular as a leafy vegetable almost all over India. It is annual and is normally grown in summer and in monsoon. Leaves of this vegetable are deep purplish red in colour. Due to cross pollination with Green Amaranth, some varieties have greenish leaves. This vegetable is used in its tender form by uprooting complete plants and also in its maturity by harvesting its leaves. At the time of Ganesh Chaturthi, even the mature pants are cooked for religious purpose. Apart from its use as a leafy vegetable, seeds of many species of Amaranthus are used like cereals. Seeds of another species of Amaranthus are also popped and used to make Rajgira chikki. The seeds are rich source of Calcium. Leaves have high content of Iron and dietary fiber. It is highly recommended for anemic persons. Dietary fiber in the leaves and tender stems reduces cholesterol and risks of cardiovascular diseases. They are also very good source of vitamin A and vitamin C.

Inflorescence

Cooked vegetable of Amaranth

For plantation in farms the seeds are sown by broadcasting method. Amaranthus love soil rich in humus and moist soil but stagnation of water or over watering can cause rot. Though they can be grown in semi shade, the growth is best in full open sunlight. There are not many pests of this plant but grasshoppers and chafer beetles occasionally damage leaves. This plant belongs to Amaranthaceae family.

Lannea coromandelica

Lannea coromandelica tree is native to India and commonly known as Indian Ash tree, झिंगन, मोई, शेंमट, गुर्जन. It is a deciduous tree with ash-grey coloured bark. It is a medium size tree which is quite drought resistant. It flowers and fruits between January to April. Many birds relish the fruit of this tree. They swallow hole fruit and mainly through their droppings seeds are dispersed far and wide. Fruit has sticky pulp.

Lannea coromandelica tree

Lannea coromandelica compound leaf

Lannea coromandelica trunk

Lannea coromandelica flowers

Lannea coromandelica fruit

Seed dispersal by birds

Lannea coromandelica fruit

It is reported that the bark and leaves of this tree are used in herbal medication and that the leaves are cooked as leafy vegetables.

This tree belongs to Anaradiaceae family and its fruit and leaves somewhat resemble Ambada tree (Spondias pinnata and Spondias dulcis). Ambada tree also belongs to Anacardiaceae family.

Cashew tree (Anacaerdium occidentale)

Cashew tree, Anacaerdium occidentale, Commonly known as Kaju, (काजू) is a kernel of a fruit. A kidney-shaped, grayish and hard shelled part of Cashew is actual fruit. What we call as Cashew apple is the flower stalk (flower stem) which expands to look like a fruit.

Cashew tree is of medium size and is very drought resistant. It is an evergreen tree. In Konkan area of Maharashtra and also in Goa, they are widely planted on red laterite rocky sites. The tree has a canopy which grows like an umbrella. Though the real fruit, cashew nut has very good keeping qualities, cashew apple has very fine skin and gets easily punctured with slightest abrasion. Cashew apple is very juicy and has slightly fibrous pulp and has astringent taste. Some people are allergic to the juice of cashew apple and get severe throat irritation. The hard shell of cashew has very high content of oil which is highly irritant but can be used to preserve wood and to make varnish etc. Kernel of the fruit has high protein, dietary fibers and minerals values. For preservation of kernel cashew fruits are roasted and then shelled. Tender cashew kernel (ओले काजू) are kernel of the tender fruit, just before fruits mature fully. Cashew apple juice can be preserved or can be made in to syrup. Liquor called as Feni (फेणी) is made from cashew apples. Cashew kernel is used widely in confectionery and sweets.

Cashew tree

Cashew leaves

Cashew flowers

Cashew fruits are just formed

Cashew tree is native to Brazil. Portuguese brought this to India and the tree has been naturalized in India now. Cashew is propagated with seeds or by grafting.

Processed cashew nuts

Miswak or Meswak tree

This straggling tree or a large shrub is very resistant to saline conditions; where many other plants cannot survive. It can be found growing on banks of creeks and also near other water bodies which are not saline. This tree is native to many countries, including India. The widespread growth of this plant around the wold may be due to migratory birds. Many birds relish fruits of Miswak. Many migratory birds flock near water bodies and through their droppings these plants may have been finding root in several countries around the world.

Salvadora persica tree

Salvadora persica tree

Salvadora persica flowers and fruit

Salvadora persica flowers and fruit

Miswak is traditionally used for dental care. Pieces of stems, about pencil thick are cut and used like a toothbrush. By chewing one end of the stick, fibers of the stick get separated like a brush. Our synthetic toothbrushes need to be used with toothpaste, as they do not have any germicidal properties. Miswak has germicidal, antibacterial and some other medicinal uses. Thus use of toothpaste is not needed. In many Arabic countries Miswak is being used as toothbrush from historic period.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miswak#/media/File:Miswak2.jpg)

Though Miswak is generally found near water bodies, it is quite drought resistant. Due to its tenacity to resist the drought, Miswak can be found in many deserts also.

Cistanche tubulosa is root parasite and gets its water and nutrients from its host, which is normally Miswak tree. I had photographed Cistanche tubulosa in desert of Pokhran in Rajasthan, India.

Cistanche tubulosa

Its scientific name is Salvadora persica. It is also known by other common names – Toothbrush tree, Mustard tree (due to its pungent taste like that of Mustard) and खारा पिलू, खाखन.