Me Sahyadri 2016 November B

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.

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 sofisticated trapping mechanism amongst all the carnivorous plants.

Pogostemon decannensis is a small aquatic herb seen in small shallow water puddles. These plants are gregarious and its flowers bloom in large numbers. The flowers are purple in colour. The plant attracts the pollinators due to its scent. These plants can be seen in small puddles on basalt plateaus, giving a feel of a flower pots in post monsoon season. These plants are called as Jambhali Manjiri in Marathi. The interesting aspect of these flowers is that there are many tiny flowers on the main flower head. These tiny flowers do not bloom on the head all at a time. As can be seen in the photograph, the flowers bloom from bottom to top. The bottom flowers are dried up in this photograph. The flowers are in the middle of the head, and yet to appear on the top of the head.

Murdannia lanuginosa is a beatiful herb with aboli colored flower, with three petals. The flower is also called as marsh dewflower. Marsh dewflower blooms in September to December months and is seen in peninsular India.

Green Habenaria is called as हिरवी हबेअमरी in Marathi. Its botanical name is Habenaria digitata. It is a ground orchid with green flowers. After sunset, the flowers emit and strong, foul smell, to attract the flies, which are looking for their food. This mimicry helps the plant for its pollination. The plant flowers in September to December months.

Slender flemengia is a small plant with purle flowers. It is called as Jartari in Marathi. The plant flowers in September-October. The plant can be seen on lateritic plateaus.

Murudannia simplex a beatiful herb with a faint purple colored flower, with three petals. The flower is also called as large dewflower.Large dewflower blooms in September to October months and is seen on lateritic plateaus.

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.