PLIGHT OF GRASSLANDS AND ITS ICONIC KEYSTONE SPECIES GREAT INDIAN BUSTARDMr. Krish Bohra, Jaipur, Rajasthan Twitter Account @krish_bohra It isn’t anything new that India’s grasslands are categorised as wastelands and the species that call them home suffer from development. Hence why, it isn’t surprising that India’s grassland species have mind-numbing population status. All four of the bustard species found in India have been seeing an extremely concerning decline with extinction being closer than ever. Hence why, I say, these birds show the plight of India’s grasslands. The most concerning of the four bustards and the subject of this article is the great Indian bustard. It is the heaviest flying bird in Asia. A somewhat long neck and legs give it a metre in height. It has mostly brown wings, a black crown and a white neck. The male in the breeding season stands tall in open ground, with neck and tail raised, white feathers fluffed, and filled gular sac giving its neck a distinctly larger look. About 500 years ago, Babur the founder of the Mughal empire wrote the Baburnama. Since he was a foreigner to the Indian subcontinent, his foreign perspective gave us good records of wildlife back then. Among many animals mentioned, he wrote of GIB as tasting good, adding that some birds’ legs taste good and some birds’ breast tastes good. This may not give us any idea of what he may or may not have observed about GIB in its natural habitat, but the fact that it’s such a casual mention shows how familiar and common a presence this bird was in those days. Babur’s grandson, Akbar the third Mughal emperor, had a study of GIB in its natural habitat painted by Ustad Mansur, the Mughal painter famous for his detailed artworks of flora and fauna depicting the beauty of the natural world. Hunting for sport and meat continued well into the British era. Famous for its wary nature, it was sought after by sportsmen looking for the thrill of the hunt. The practice of egg collections was prevalent among experts and enthusiasts of the time, and since it lays only one egg an year, collecting eggs of a breeding population had severe impacts. Of course, you need to trap or kill the mother for collecting the egg as well. We can see how the plight of the bird just kept increasing as the time went on. It was in 1830 that Vigors first described it to science for the first time as Otis nigriceps. Historically, it was spread across large parts of the subcontinent—from Sindh in the west, to Odisha in the east and from Punjab in the north, to Tamil Nadu in the south. This huge distribution was documented by several naturalists. Thomas C. Jerdon even described it as being ‘found throughout considerable part of India’. He went on to note observing flocks of twenty-five or more and even referred to someone having seen a flock of more than thirty birds on just ‘one small hill’. Owing to the wide distribution, and commonplace visibility in the open country, local names for the bird were common across the range. In fact, early naturalists who documented the range, characteristics etc. would more often make a note of how different regions had different names in local tongues. Godawan in western Rajasthan, Nahar-goonjni or Goonjan Park in Kota and Ajmer regions, Maldhok in Maharashtra, Beta-meka or Ghanad in Andhra Pradesh, Yerreladdu in Karnataka, Gorard in Gujarat and Son-chirya or Haank in Madhya Pradesh. The local variations with dialects can be found too—for example, Hookna, Hookne and Hookan in Shivpuri and Gwalior districts. Over time, as the great Indian bustard vanished, these names were lost in the pages of history as well, just a memory that didn’t pass into the later generations. Their ideal habitat of the plains had a larger battle to fight for the survival of all the species that called it home, the British Raj was devastating for it. Since they lacked productive timber, its classification as ‘wasteland’ meant no protection from ‘productive use’ and the animals there suffered. This, in particular, is important as the persecution of GIB was being accompanied by habitat loss, ultimately leading to an extreme effect in their populations. Hunting records are essential in painting a picture of the eventual disappearance of GIB from the Indian savannah. The pursuit of the bird for sport and meat can be found in the writings of various hunters across centuries. Col Robert Mansfield had hunted 961 in 25 years, while Jerdon talked of a sportsman having killed more than a thousand and he himself had shot many too. It’s interesting that in 1921 E. C. Stuart commented that they were ‘not as common’ as they used to be fifty years ago and doubted the possibility of anyone shooting a thousand birds in his time as someone had done in Jerdon’s time. He had hoped that it would survive and stated that it ‘requires protection just as much as our other game-birds do’. An officer in Malegaon had come across a flock feeding in a jowari field, where he shot seven of them “as they rose, like so many partridges”. Hume had recorded that they occurred “somewhat plentifully throughout Mysore” and that he had frequently shot them. E. C. Stuart had compared the way hunters here hunted with the way hunters shot the European bustard, stating that driving was seldom used here, and that stalking on foot was the widely used strategy. I find Major R. W. Burton’s words at the end of a successful hunt to hold immense meaning, “There is no finer bird than a male of the Great Indian Bustard, and the delight in handling the magnificent plumage was mingled with a genuine feeling of regret—now the excitement was over—that the stately bird would no more proudly stalk his native plains.” By 1947, the bird was already very rare. In the first meeting of Indian Board of Wild Life, it was placed in the fully protected list of endangered birds, with all the states accepting the recommendation. This, however, did not result in any fruitful outcome as the population kept declining. In May 1960, the 12th conference of International Council of Bird Preservation was held in Tokyo—here, the idea of each country having a ‘national’ bird was brought up. An interesting suggestion was put forth in 1961 by Salim Ali, the Birdman of India, famous for surveying several birds and fighting for their conservation in times of weak protection laws and diminishing wildlife. He believed that it was obvious the great Indian bustard should be given the status as the national bird was supposed to be ‘in greatest need for protection in each country’, calling the Indian Board of Wild Life’s suggestion peafowl ‘meaningless’. Alas, the peafowl did win the race and became the national bird, because of a concern that a small spelling mistake in the name of the great Indian bustard can be embarrassing for India on a global stage. In a different world, this would’ve made GIB the iconic flagship of India’s grasslands, furthering the ends of several of the grassland species. In 1957, R. S. Dharmakumarsinhji studied the ecology of the bird and went on to conduct the first nationwide population assessment in 1969. Results were horrifying—only 1260 birds were left. The same year, Balakrishna Seshadri rightfully called it ‘the ornithologist’s worry’. In 1978, the figure was down to 745, in 2001, it was 600 and it declined even further by 2006 as Dr Asad Rahmani reported less than 300 birds left. In 2011, Sutirtha Dutta, a scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India, conducted research on the declining bird, and IUCN gave it the status of a Critically Endangered species, recognising that the bustard has disappeared from more than 90% of its historical range. In 2018, their population got to the concerning figure of 150. Today, Gujarat has just 4 individuals and the collective population of other states except Rajasthan is less than 10. Desert National Park in Rajasthan shows the only breeding population of GIB. Predation by free-ranging dogs is a threat to the existence of wildlife in the DNP landscape. Moreso for slow breeders like GIB, as you can not only lose a precious individual to them, but you can also lose eggs, which they lay only once a year. Since they live in the open country of grasslands, which of course is officially categorised as wasteland, the development activities hit them hard. The status of Desert National Park is highly concerning. The 2018 report showed there were 128 GIB left in DNP, and since then several cases of deaths have been reported. It is a large area of 3162 sqkm but over-the-head powerlines and windmills are a major cause of casualties in birds. Many birds like GIB do not have the ability to see in front of them while flying from afar. Since their eyes are on the sides to see predators, they have somewhat of a blind spot in front and thus end up colliding with power lines and windmills. Ironic really, that such a widely used source of renewable energy like a windmill isn’t ‘green’ in the truest sense of the word. Can we really call something ‘green energy’ if it threatens the very existence of multiple species? In 2019, Mr. M.K. Ranjitsinh and other conservationists filed a petition to make the powerlines in the habitat underground and Supreme Court ordered for it to be done. In 2022, the governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat were ordered to install bird diverters on such high-voltage wires to stop the casualties in collision. Neither of the two orders came to fruition on ground and the birds have kept dying. “18 GIB likely die per year from a population of about 128 ± 19 individuals in Thar. Such a high mortality rate (at least 15% annually due to power lines alone) is unsustainable for the species” stated the Wildlife Institute of India in its 2018 report. The great Indian bustard needs the same sense of awareness that the tiger got in the late 50s and throughout 60s, eventually leading to Project Tiger in 1973. The problem, however, is that GIB can’t wait for 10-15 years. So not only does it need the same kind awareness and attention, but it also needs it faster at this point. Even though there’s some success achieved in captive breeding them, habitat protection and declining wild population are still issues of great concern. The Great Indian bustard encapsulates what our grasslands face–dying species and negligence of governments. If it goes extinct, it would be another thing we lost in our savannahs–lions disappeared from most of the range, cheetah is extinct, vast blackbuck herds are a thing of the past, wolf packs being common is nothing but a memory and of course GIB flocks across India are lost in the pages of history. Bottom line is, India will inevitably lose this bird if conservation work isn’t done. It is for us to decide. Do we want to let this bird go extinct?
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ओरण ग्यारसी ओरण, पर्यावरण और सामाजिक मेलजोल की गाथा द्वारा - कृष्णपालसिंह राखी (ERDS फाउंडेशन के "सामुदायिक गोडावण संरक्षण अभियान" के लिए लिखित) 💐ओरण ग्यारसी💐 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण जीवन दान। ओरण जणे अवेरिया,उणरा बचिया प्राण।।1 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण जीवन रेख। ओरण पालणहार हैं,जायर मरुधर देख।।2 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण रमिया देव। ओरण गाय रुखाळवाँ,मरिया लोक सदैव।।3 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण आवड़ मात। ओरण सींव अवेरवा,(माँ)चील रूप संघात।।4 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण खेजड़ियाह। मरता मिनख वचाईयाँ,हणे पोतरीयाह।।5 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण पाळै जीव। क्रोड जिनावर जात रा,इण ओरण री नीव।।6 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण माटी ओज। ओरण लोग उचेरिया,(जो)कट मरजावैं रोज।।7 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण भड़ किवाड़। अरियाँ रोकी आंधियां,परतख उंडी खाड़।।8 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण मेह मनवार। सूखी सेवण पांगरैं,हरियल ओढ़ण हार।।9 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,ओरण अंतस नेह। ओरण धर रुलियामणी,मझ मरुधर(री)देह।।10 ओरण अन्तस आतमा,जीव देह जैसाण। भले संभाळो भाटियों,कह केपी चव्हाण।।11 कृष्णपालसिंह राखी® The Team, |
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गुग्गल : थार रेगिस्थान का लुप्त प्राय महत्वपूर्ण औषधीय झाड़ीनुमा पेड़
By Mr. Amitabh Baloch* and Mr. Parth Jagani**
*Project Associate and Field Coordinator **,
GIB Community Conservation Program,
Jaisalmer - Rajasthan
भारतीय औषधिय वनस्पतियों में गुग्गल (Commiphora wightii) एक महत्वपूर्ण औषधि है। थार मरुस्थल और अरावली के गर्म चट्टानी पठारों पर उगने वाला यह मध्यम आकार का झाड़ीनुमा पेड़ अपने गोंद या रेजिन के लिये विश्विव विख्यात है, जिसका भरपूर उपयोग धूप-अगरबत्ती उद्योग और औषधी निर्माण में होता है, इसके अतिरिक्त इसके फल भी मरुस्थल के वन्यजीवों का महत्वपूर्ण आहार होते हैं, जिन्हें गुग्गलानी कहते हैं। तपते रेगिस्तानी पठारों पर इसके पेड़ डंडा-थोर की कंटीली झाड़ियों की सुरक्षा के बीच बहुत धीमी गति से बढ़ते हैं और लगभग 10-15 वर्षों में गोंद उत्पादन करने के काबिल होते हैं। चट्टानी क्षेत्रों में बढ़ती खनन गतिविधियों और बढ़ती मानव बस्तियों ने इनके पेड़ों का अधिकाँश प्राकृतिक पर्यावास ही खत्म कर दिया है, इसके साथ पुराने परिपक्व पेड़ों का गोंद के लिये इस प्रकार अत्यधिक चीरे लगाकर दोहन करने से इसके पुराने पेड़ भी नष्ट हो रहे हैं, अधिकाँश पेड़ इन चीरों से गोंद देने के बाद खत्म हो जाते हैं।
जैसलमेर के आसपास के चट्टानी पठारों पर गुग्गल के पेड़ों को काट कर भी ले जाया जाता है और ओने-पोने दामों पर बेच दिया जाता है। यह जाने बगैर की पेड़ में से गुग्गल की खुश्बू उसके गीले रहने तक ही रहती है, काट देने के बाद इसकी खुश्बू कुछ ही दिनों में खत्म हो जाती है। यह पेड़ पश्चिमी राजस्थान के चट्टानी पठारों, ओरणों के आसपास के बरसाती व बिना सिंचाई सुविधा वाले खेतों में व्यवसायिक स्तर पर उग सकने में समर्थ है अतः इस पेड़ को उगाने, इसकी गोंद निकालने के आधुनिक तरीकों पर विशेष ध्यान देने और शोध की आवश्यक्ता है, इसके साथ प्राकृतिक रूप से उगे दुर्लभ हो चुके इसके पेड़ों की सुरक्षा और इसके व्यापार के लिये चंदन के पेड़ों जैसे नियम कानूनों की भी अतिशीघ्र आवश्यक्ता है अन्यथा वह समय दूर नहीं जब हम इस महत्वपूर्ण पेड़ को भी हम खो देंगे।
The ERDS फाउंडेशन संस्थान पिछले कुछ समय से ऐसे लुप्त प्राय हो रहे औषधीय पौधों के सर्वे और सामुदायिक स्तर पर संरक्षण के लिए कार्यरत हैं। जल्द ही संस्था द्वारा गुग्गल के पौधे को नर्सरी में विकसित कर इच्छुक किसानों को दिए जाने का प्रस्ताव बनाया जा रहा हैं।
Wild Edible Onion of Thar Desert | थार के लुप्त होते : मीठे प्याज
By Mr. Parth Jagani* and Mr. Amitabh Baloch**
*Field Coordinator and **Project Associate,
Organic Farming Advocacy Project
GIB Community Conservation Program,
Jaisalmer - Rajasthan
भारत का थार मरुस्थल दुनिया में सर्वाधिक जैव विविधता से परिपूर्ण मरुस्थल है। इस प्रदेश को पहले निर्जल व वीरान समझा जाता था, वहाँ पर प्रकृति ने कुछ विशेष वातावरण में पनप सकने वाले जीवों और पादपों को रचा, जिनके बारे में बाहरी दुनिया आज तक अनभिज्ञ है। थार मरुस्थल की पथरीली, सख्त सतहों पर उगने वाला ऐसा ही एक स्थानीय पादप किस्म है भाखर कन्दी, जिसका वैज्ञानिक नाम Dipcadi Erythraeum है। यह Scilloidea वर्ग में Asparagaceae कुल की वनस्पति है और थार मरुस्थल की एकमात्र ज्ञात कन्द वनस्पति। इसके 7-8 इंच ऊँचाई के छोटे पौधों पर घास जैसी पत्तियाँ होती हैं जो प्राकृतिक परिवेश में घासों के साथ घुलमिलकर रहती है। यह अधिकाँशतः पथरीली कंकरयुक्त जमीनों और पठारी सतहों पर उगती हैं जहाँ से बरसाती जल प्रवाह बनता है या फिर कुछ दिनों के लिये वर्षाजल एकत्रित होता है, इसके कन्द छोटे सफेद प्याज जैसे होते हैं, जिनमें लम्बे समय तक सुखी परिस्थितियों के लिये पानी व पोषक तत्वों का संग्रहण रहता है।
एक सदी पहले तक अत्यधिक पानी में उगने वाले प्याज, थार मरुस्थल में दुर्लभ थे, उन दिनों इन्हीं भाखर कन्दों को थार के लोग प्याज की तरह उपयोग में लेते थे। स्वाद में यह कन्द प्याज से मीठे होते हैं, इनका आकार भी छोटा होता है अतः इन्हें ज्यादा मात्रा में उपयोग में लिया जाता था, इनकी खेती नहीं होने से इन्हें वर्षा ऋतु के बाद खोजकर इकट्ठा करा जाता था। इसके कन्द जो सफेद रंग के हल्के मीठे होते हैं, उन्हें कच्चा या फिर सब्जी व दाल में पकाकर खाया जाता था। अकाल के समय यह एक महत्वपूर्ण जीवन रक्षक पौधा था जिसे खाकर लोग अपनी विभिन्न पोषक तत्वों की पूर्ति करते थे, इसके साथ यह औषधीय बूटी भी थी, इसके पत्तों के रस को घावों पर लगाया जाता था, कुछ वैज्ञानिक शोधों में इसमें विभिन्न उपयोगी अलकोलॉइड, टैनिन्स, सैपोनिन्स व फ्लेवोनॉयड्स की उपस्थिति भी मिली है।लेकिन पिछली सदी में पानी की उपलब्धता, सिंचाई की नई तकनीकों और व्यापार की बदौलत सस्ते सुलभ प्याज ने इन भाखर कंदीयों को घास मैदानों से इकट्ठा करने की मेहनत से थार वासियों को मुक्त कर दिया।
आज इस कन्दी को थार वासीयों द्वारा भी लगभग भुला दिया गया है, अधिकाँश युवा और बुजुर्ग इसके उपयोग के बारे में अपरिचित हैं, इसके साथ थार मरुस्थल में कुछ दशकों में नहर आ जाने, बढ़ते कृषि क्षेत्रफल, बदलते भू-उपयोग और पवन-सौर ऊर्जा संयंत्रों के विस्तार के कारण यह पौधा अपना अधिकाँश प्राकृतिक विस्तार क्षेत्र खो चुका है, अब यह बेहद दुर्लभ और संकटग्रस्त प्रजातियों की सूची में शामिल है और जैसलमेर- बाड़मेर जिलों के सुदूर क्षेत्रों में ही देखा जा सकता है।
वर्तमान में इस पौधे पर ध्यान देने की विशेष आवश्यक्ता है, बेहद कम सिंचाई व खाद दवाई के मरुस्थलीय वातावरण में उग सकने की इसकी काबिलियत, इसका स्वाद व इसके औषधीय गुण इसे आर्थिक रूप से लाभदायक बनाते हैं।
The ERDS Foundation स्थानीय समुदायों के साथ मिलकर दुर्लभ और संकटग्रस्त वनस्पतियों के सर्वे, संरक्षण और संवर्धन के लिए, सामुदायिक गोडावण संरक्षण प्रोजेक्ट के अन्तर्गत कार्य कर रहा हैं।
एक सदी पहले तक अत्यधिक पानी में उगने वाले प्याज, थार मरुस्थल में दुर्लभ थे, उन दिनों इन्हीं भाखर कन्दों को थार के लोग प्याज की तरह उपयोग में लेते थे। स्वाद में यह कन्द प्याज से मीठे होते हैं, इनका आकार भी छोटा होता है अतः इन्हें ज्यादा मात्रा में उपयोग में लिया जाता था, इनकी खेती नहीं होने से इन्हें वर्षा ऋतु के बाद खोजकर इकट्ठा करा जाता था। इसके कन्द जो सफेद रंग के हल्के मीठे होते हैं, उन्हें कच्चा या फिर सब्जी व दाल में पकाकर खाया जाता था। अकाल के समय यह एक महत्वपूर्ण जीवन रक्षक पौधा था जिसे खाकर लोग अपनी विभिन्न पोषक तत्वों की पूर्ति करते थे, इसके साथ यह औषधीय बूटी भी थी, इसके पत्तों के रस को घावों पर लगाया जाता था, कुछ वैज्ञानिक शोधों में इसमें विभिन्न उपयोगी अलकोलॉइड, टैनिन्स, सैपोनिन्स व फ्लेवोनॉयड्स की उपस्थिति भी मिली है।लेकिन पिछली सदी में पानी की उपलब्धता, सिंचाई की नई तकनीकों और व्यापार की बदौलत सस्ते सुलभ प्याज ने इन भाखर कंदीयों को घास मैदानों से इकट्ठा करने की मेहनत से थार वासियों को मुक्त कर दिया।
आज इस कन्दी को थार वासीयों द्वारा भी लगभग भुला दिया गया है, अधिकाँश युवा और बुजुर्ग इसके उपयोग के बारे में अपरिचित हैं, इसके साथ थार मरुस्थल में कुछ दशकों में नहर आ जाने, बढ़ते कृषि क्षेत्रफल, बदलते भू-उपयोग और पवन-सौर ऊर्जा संयंत्रों के विस्तार के कारण यह पौधा अपना अधिकाँश प्राकृतिक विस्तार क्षेत्र खो चुका है, अब यह बेहद दुर्लभ और संकटग्रस्त प्रजातियों की सूची में शामिल है और जैसलमेर- बाड़मेर जिलों के सुदूर क्षेत्रों में ही देखा जा सकता है।
वर्तमान में इस पौधे पर ध्यान देने की विशेष आवश्यक्ता है, बेहद कम सिंचाई व खाद दवाई के मरुस्थलीय वातावरण में उग सकने की इसकी काबिलियत, इसका स्वाद व इसके औषधीय गुण इसे आर्थिक रूप से लाभदायक बनाते हैं।
The ERDS Foundation स्थानीय समुदायों के साथ मिलकर दुर्लभ और संकटग्रस्त वनस्पतियों के सर्वे, संरक्षण और संवर्धन के लिए, सामुदायिक गोडावण संरक्षण प्रोजेक्ट के अन्तर्गत कार्य कर रहा हैं।
Pimpa or Caralluma edulis :
A forgotten culinary delight of Desert Cuisine
By Mr. Parth Jagani
Far there in the middle of the Thar, a woman cooks Dal, a healthy soup of splited Moong & Gram, but have you ever wondered what she will add to increase the taste, to add that much needed tanginess and to garnish her servings. How will she arrange fresh Coriander in this desert also Kokam & Tamarind are not available in the village, than how is she going to prepare her recipe, well answer lies within the desert. Very few outsiders have actually heard the name of Pimpo or Pimpa, a small beans like succulent plant that not only adds the flavour but also give the much needed green texture to the meal. This Pimpo is known as Caralluma edulis in the botanical circles is among the rare culinary cum medicinal herb from the Thar Desert.
It is an important food-cum-medicinal plant of the extreme arid regions of the Thar Desert. It is a drought resistant stem succulent occurring in dry sandy places in hot arid areas preferably within the large tussocks of Murath grass (Panicum turgidum). Traditionally, its succulent stems are consumed raw as greens, vegetable and is also used as medicinal plant of the Thar Desert of India. Degradation of rangelands due to high grazing pressure and changes in land use pattern has threatened its existence. It’s a highly drought resistant succulent species, occurs usually in dry sandy places (Bhandari, 1990). In Jaisalmer district, it showed preferred occurrence within the large tussocks of Murath grass (Panicum turgidum) (Singh et al. 2014). However, its existence was also found under the canopy of arid shrubs such as Kair (Capparis decidua), Kheep (Leptadenia pyrotechnica), Bordi (Ziziphus nummularia ), Bui (Aerva persica ), and also with tree species like Kumat (Acacia senegal). The grasses like Lasiurus sindicus, Ochthochloa compressa , Dactyloctenium sindicum, and Cenchrus biflorus and the legumes like Indigofera cordifolia are the associated herbaceous species with it in this landscape.
This critically endangered flora is endemic to the region, where it grows on the sandy gravel surfaces adjusting, not only, between the extreme seasonal temperatures but also the daily temperatures, surviving on every single drop of rainwater. The plant which becomes thick after rains is a favorite green vegetable in the Thar cuisine especially in & around Jaisalmer, where it is used in Dal and is made into Sabzi. Unlike other desert food items often referred as Famine food this is not part of that group, it is available only after the rains. It also has medicinal properties and is used for curing Cold, Cough, Stomachaches and Inflammation. It's leaves are used as ointment on Cuts, Wounds and Pimples. According to few researches it is helpful in Diabetes too. Inspite of so many uses the plant has now become rare to find, reason being the habitat destruction. Conversion of the large part of Thar Desert into agriculture fields with increased usage of water along with greening of desert by introducing foreign species of A. tortilis and Eucalyptus spp. The over exploitation of the plant for food from the wild also restricted it's flowering and seed development. Now the plant is very much limited in and around the very arid and dry parts of the Desert National Park, even from there it is collected and used. It needs attention of both the agronomists and the conservationists, its already existing market needs a continuous supply of it by starting farming and maintaining a healthy wild population. At ERDS Foundation, we are working with locals for documentation, status survey or RET plants as well as natural propagation.
References
It is an important food-cum-medicinal plant of the extreme arid regions of the Thar Desert. It is a drought resistant stem succulent occurring in dry sandy places in hot arid areas preferably within the large tussocks of Murath grass (Panicum turgidum). Traditionally, its succulent stems are consumed raw as greens, vegetable and is also used as medicinal plant of the Thar Desert of India. Degradation of rangelands due to high grazing pressure and changes in land use pattern has threatened its existence. It’s a highly drought resistant succulent species, occurs usually in dry sandy places (Bhandari, 1990). In Jaisalmer district, it showed preferred occurrence within the large tussocks of Murath grass (Panicum turgidum) (Singh et al. 2014). However, its existence was also found under the canopy of arid shrubs such as Kair (Capparis decidua), Kheep (Leptadenia pyrotechnica), Bordi (Ziziphus nummularia ), Bui (Aerva persica ), and also with tree species like Kumat (Acacia senegal). The grasses like Lasiurus sindicus, Ochthochloa compressa , Dactyloctenium sindicum, and Cenchrus biflorus and the legumes like Indigofera cordifolia are the associated herbaceous species with it in this landscape.
This critically endangered flora is endemic to the region, where it grows on the sandy gravel surfaces adjusting, not only, between the extreme seasonal temperatures but also the daily temperatures, surviving on every single drop of rainwater. The plant which becomes thick after rains is a favorite green vegetable in the Thar cuisine especially in & around Jaisalmer, where it is used in Dal and is made into Sabzi. Unlike other desert food items often referred as Famine food this is not part of that group, it is available only after the rains. It also has medicinal properties and is used for curing Cold, Cough, Stomachaches and Inflammation. It's leaves are used as ointment on Cuts, Wounds and Pimples. According to few researches it is helpful in Diabetes too. Inspite of so many uses the plant has now become rare to find, reason being the habitat destruction. Conversion of the large part of Thar Desert into agriculture fields with increased usage of water along with greening of desert by introducing foreign species of A. tortilis and Eucalyptus spp. The over exploitation of the plant for food from the wild also restricted it's flowering and seed development. Now the plant is very much limited in and around the very arid and dry parts of the Desert National Park, even from there it is collected and used. It needs attention of both the agronomists and the conservationists, its already existing market needs a continuous supply of it by starting farming and maintaining a healthy wild population. At ERDS Foundation, we are working with locals for documentation, status survey or RET plants as well as natural propagation.
References
- Bhandari, M. M. (1990). Flora of the Indian Desert. MPS Repros, Rajasthan.
- Singh, J.P., Kumar, S., Venkatesan, K. and Kulloli, R. N. (2016). Conservation status and utilization of Caralluma edulis: an important threatened medicinal plant species of the Thar Desert, India. Genet Resour Crop Evol 63, 721–732. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-016-0366-3
- Singh JP, Suresh Kumar, Venkatesan K, Kulloli RN (2014). Pimpa (Caralluma edulis): a traditional food cum medicinal plant of Thar Desert. In: CAZRI news, no. 1 (Apr.–Jun.), 2014–2015
Khiroli - Strawberry of Thar
By Mr. Parth Jagani and Dr. Sumit Dookia
Many of you have not heard this name and to many it will bring surprise and excitement. Yes! There is a small, tender sweet, fruit that grows on and around the rocky, graveled surfaces of the Thar Desert during the monsoon season and is very famous within the local communities. Locally the plant is called Dodha डोडा and fruits are called खिरोली या खीरडी (Khiroli or Khirdi), it belongs to the family Apocynaceae of plants, which includes many species from North Africa to North West India. The botanical name of Dodha plant is Glossonema Varians which is native to the rocky areas of Thar Desert. Glossonema varians (Stocks) Benth. ex Hook.f., locally, known as dudho/dudha/dodha belongs to the family Apocynaceae earlier known as Asclepiadaceae (milkweed family). A medicinally important, rare, endemic and edible plant species of Thar Desert is a perennial herb and well adapted to the arid and semi-arid region of the Indian Desert. The plant is used as famine food at the time of food scarcity and local people also used it as fodder. The plant is under rare category due to its large scale harvesting from wild as it is used extensively by the industries and the local population as energy tonic and other medicinal uses. Due to habitat destruction and increased anthropogenic activities, the natural propagation of plant is limited (Paliwal et al., 2018) and now found only in the some pockets of Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan.
It is a threatened plant confined to semiarid region of Rajasthan. G. varians regenerates from the parenting rootstock after rain (Parihar and Dwivedi, 2020). Plants usually flower once a year (Ali and Ali 1996). Flowering occurs during the month of August-October. The fruits of G. varians are edible, locally known as ‘khiroli’ and consumed raw by the native people (Bhandari 1990; Singh 2004). These were used as famine food by the local people in deficiency time. They used the immature tender fruits as vegetable. Fruits (follicles) of G. varians are 2.5-5 cm long, ellipsoid and beaked. Fruits are covered with spine like structures. Fruits can be seen in the month of November-February. These are highly nutritious and contain carbohydrates, flavonoids, amino acids and fatty acids (Rizk et al. 1983, 1990).
The loss of habitat after irrigation canals, overgrazing of reducing desert and consumption of fruits collected from wild has made it one of the critically endangered plants species. Now found around few places around Desert National Park and in few sacred Oran pasture lands in Jaisalmer district, the plants needs conservation efforts. The small greyish green plants have culinary cum medicinal values, its fruits which are rich in essential and non-essential amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids & flavonoids are eaten raw or cooked as sabji or with milk as sweet pudding. Local shepherds consider these sweet fruits as energetic bites while grazing. The thick leaves of the plant are also cooked and eaten. Thus this plant is a very much essential part of Desert life, with each passing day it is becoming rare to find these, which made Mr. Jugatdan a farmer from Bonada village of Jaisalmer to cultivate and sell only the fruits. In 2018 he collected few plants growing wild around his farm and saved the seeds for next season, in 2019 he was able to harvest around 70 kg of fruits which he sold in the Jaisalmer city in Rs. 150/- per kg and all was pre-booked to be purchased. This year many farmers approached him for these plants, which was very inspiring for him. Soon we are able to have more and more farmer to grow these forgotten rare and edible plants of Thar Desert.
Reference
By Mr. Parth Jagani and Dr. Sumit Dookia
Many of you have not heard this name and to many it will bring surprise and excitement. Yes! There is a small, tender sweet, fruit that grows on and around the rocky, graveled surfaces of the Thar Desert during the monsoon season and is very famous within the local communities. Locally the plant is called Dodha डोडा and fruits are called खिरोली या खीरडी (Khiroli or Khirdi), it belongs to the family Apocynaceae of plants, which includes many species from North Africa to North West India. The botanical name of Dodha plant is Glossonema Varians which is native to the rocky areas of Thar Desert. Glossonema varians (Stocks) Benth. ex Hook.f., locally, known as dudho/dudha/dodha belongs to the family Apocynaceae earlier known as Asclepiadaceae (milkweed family). A medicinally important, rare, endemic and edible plant species of Thar Desert is a perennial herb and well adapted to the arid and semi-arid region of the Indian Desert. The plant is used as famine food at the time of food scarcity and local people also used it as fodder. The plant is under rare category due to its large scale harvesting from wild as it is used extensively by the industries and the local population as energy tonic and other medicinal uses. Due to habitat destruction and increased anthropogenic activities, the natural propagation of plant is limited (Paliwal et al., 2018) and now found only in the some pockets of Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan.
It is a threatened plant confined to semiarid region of Rajasthan. G. varians regenerates from the parenting rootstock after rain (Parihar and Dwivedi, 2020). Plants usually flower once a year (Ali and Ali 1996). Flowering occurs during the month of August-October. The fruits of G. varians are edible, locally known as ‘khiroli’ and consumed raw by the native people (Bhandari 1990; Singh 2004). These were used as famine food by the local people in deficiency time. They used the immature tender fruits as vegetable. Fruits (follicles) of G. varians are 2.5-5 cm long, ellipsoid and beaked. Fruits are covered with spine like structures. Fruits can be seen in the month of November-February. These are highly nutritious and contain carbohydrates, flavonoids, amino acids and fatty acids (Rizk et al. 1983, 1990).
The loss of habitat after irrigation canals, overgrazing of reducing desert and consumption of fruits collected from wild has made it one of the critically endangered plants species. Now found around few places around Desert National Park and in few sacred Oran pasture lands in Jaisalmer district, the plants needs conservation efforts. The small greyish green plants have culinary cum medicinal values, its fruits which are rich in essential and non-essential amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids & flavonoids are eaten raw or cooked as sabji or with milk as sweet pudding. Local shepherds consider these sweet fruits as energetic bites while grazing. The thick leaves of the plant are also cooked and eaten. Thus this plant is a very much essential part of Desert life, with each passing day it is becoming rare to find these, which made Mr. Jugatdan a farmer from Bonada village of Jaisalmer to cultivate and sell only the fruits. In 2018 he collected few plants growing wild around his farm and saved the seeds for next season, in 2019 he was able to harvest around 70 kg of fruits which he sold in the Jaisalmer city in Rs. 150/- per kg and all was pre-booked to be purchased. This year many farmers approached him for these plants, which was very inspiring for him. Soon we are able to have more and more farmer to grow these forgotten rare and edible plants of Thar Desert.
Reference
- Ali, T. and Ali, S.I. (1996). Andromonoecy in Glossonema varians (stocks) Hook. F. (Asclepiadaceae). Pakistan Journal of Botany. 28:25–29
- Bhandari, M.M. (1990). Flora of the Indian Desert. MPS Repors, Jodhpur, India.
- Paliwal, A.; Shekhawat, N. S. and Dagla, H. S. (2018). Micropropagation of Glossonema varians (Stocks) Benth. ex Hook.f.—a rare Asclepiadeae of Indian Thar Desert. In-Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant 54: 637–641. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-018-9935-9
- Parihar, S. and Dwivedi, N. K. (2020). A note on an important edible, rare and the famine food plant of Indian Thar Desert: Glossonema varians (Stocks) Benth. ex Hook.f. Genet Resour Crop Evol. 67:1929–1934 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-00995-4
- Rizk AM, Hammouda FM, Hussein L (1983) Constituents of plants growing in Qatar III-nutritive constituent of Garawah (Glossonema edule). Plants Foods Hum Nutr 33:71–76
- Rizk AM, Hammouda FM, Ismail SI, Hassan NM, El-missiry MM, Ahmad FA (1990). Constituents of plants growing in Qatar IX. Flavanoids of Glossonema edule N E Br. Plants Foods Hum Nutr 40:1–3.
- Singh AK (2004) Endangered economic species of Indian desert. Genet Resour Crop Evol 51:371–380
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