Skywatch Friday

TheNorfolk Island Pine Araucaria cookii seems to be pointing to the sky vehemently in front of Crawford Hall in Mysore which houses the administration block of the Mysore University.
Although the Araucaria is not a native of India, it grows happily to great heights in Bangalore and Mysore. It is a favourite tree of gardeners of public gardens because of its shape and dark green colour. The Araucaria gets its name from Arauco district in Chile, which is its native place. The cookii part of its name is in honour of Captain Cook, who discovered the the tree in New Caledonia during his second voyage to Australia.The tree has hard wood which is sometimes used for building .
Wish you a very happy and fulfilling New Year.
You can see more sky pictures at http://skyley.blogspot.com

Umbrella Sedge

The Umbrella Sedge Cyperus scariosus is found in marshy places , and near river banks. It is a tuberous plant which can become invasive in a garden. Many types of butterfly larvae feed on it. The tiny seeds are food for small birds and squirrels.

Egyptians used it for making papyrus. In Tamil Nadu, pretty mats are woven using this grass. The grass is also used in hair care products, since it encourages hair growth. The tubers of this plant are used in herbal medicine to cure diarrhea and general weakness.

The plant looks pretty when it is planted near a pond.

Ivy-leaved Morning Glory

The Ivy-leaved Morning Glory Ipomea cairica is also known as 'Mile a Minute vine'! Because of its quick growth habits, it used to be planted along railway lines. It has leaves which are lobed. The vine flowers profusely in all seasons and gladdens the heart of the beholder.

This specimen has covered a whole tree in the park surrounding a lake in Mysore.

Being a native Indian plant, this Morning Glory is used in folk medicine.

American Elder

I understand that this plant is the American Elder Sambucus canadensis. I got a cutting from a tribal village in B.R.Hills last year, and now the plant is full of lacy white flowers. They do not have any smell.

It is a native of Mexico , Canada and the U.S.A. It is used as a hedge in tribal villages. Wikipedia says that the flowers and berries are edible, but the rest of the plant is poisonous.

At first, the local butterflies did not recognise the flower and they were not pollinated. Now , the plant is besieged by pollinators and their predators, and there are bunches of dark berries .I forgot to ask the tribals whether they ate the fruit ,which I am scared to eat. I tasted one berry today, and it was nothing great.

Winter Wild Flowers

I found this exquisite flower growing by the wayside on one of my long walks. After a long search on the net and in books on wild flowers of India, I discovered that it is Nepeta hindostana.

This was another wild flower I found . It grows on a short tree, which is full of flowers in this season. I think it is Dalbergia lanceolaria.

Both these native flowers are beautiful, but nobody bothers about them. I hope some nurseryperson will start growing them commercially.

Wild Flowers of Wayanad

Wayanad is a hilly , tropical district in Kerala, the southernmost state of India. The wild flowers you see there are different, although it is only 300 kilometres away. The pink flowers in the picture above were blooming everywhere in the roadside. They look like the Touch-me-Not Mimosa pudica, but they are a different mimosa. Their leaves are not sensitive to touch unlike the Touch-Me-Not.

These white flowers were also in profusion at the edges of the coffee gardens.

I saw these huge barleria flowers while going on a trek in the jungle. The flowers were a beautiful blue and as large as Morning Glory flowers. Since it was dark, I could not take a good picture. I could not get the seeds, as I was scared to go in the thick undergrowth in the dark.

The Butterfly Pea Clitoria is usually blue or white here. I found these lovely mauve flowers on a trek to lake Banasura.

Dangerous Plants

Yesterday morning, when I woke up, I could not see anything clearly with my right eye. Everything was in a haze, I could not even see the wall clock with my right eye, but I could see everything clearly with my left eye. When the situation did not improve even after washing my eyes repeatedly, I became panicky.I took an appointment with my Ophtholmologist and met her at 10.30 a.m.

She did lots of tests and peered into my eyes with her instruments. Fortunately for me, her friend, a cornea specialist was also present there, who too peered into my eyes. He asked me whether I did a lot of gardening. I said yes, and he told me that there were multiple abrasions on my right cornea, caused by plant juices. He prescribed some steroid eye drops

which I have to continue using for 3 weeks. I have been thinking about the poisonous plants I handle daily, and here are some. The lantana in the topmost picture with its cheerful flowers, is a poisonous plant. All parts of the Nerium Oleander whose flowers I gather every day, are very poisonous. The Brugmansia plant is very poisonous, but its flowers are very beautiful.
I

The plant of the tomato, which I pulled out the day before , is also poisonous. I have a sneaking suspicion that the plant juices of the tomato have caused the injury to my eye.

There are many other mild and strong toxic plants in my garden, which I handle every day.I have learnt one important thing from this experience: If some plant juice gets into your eyes, you must immediately wash your eyes with water. That way, the risk of injuring your eyes are minimised.

My right eye has improved a bit, and today, I can see the wall clock, and also tell the time using my right eye.