Punjab (“Granary of India”)
Disclaimer: It is always advised to consult an Ayurvedic physician before using these herbs.
Punjab or earlier known as “Panchanada” (Five rivers- Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum) is a fertile region and is a place renowned for its wheat, rice, maize, and citrus fruits like oranges and kinnows production. The state is home to a significant number of plant species that many people are unaware of. It has an impressive collection of both native and exotic plants, with many of them being used for medicinal purposes. It is worth exploring this aspect of the state and appreciating its biodiversity.
Explore:
- Ber is a healthy fruit. The decoction of its leaves, roots, bark, and seeds can be used.
- Kapur is readily available in markets that are white-colored small tablets. It purifies the air around and makes one feel better with its exquisite fragrance.
- A study suggests that planting eucalyptus trees can reduce the levels of nutrients and turbidity in water, which may be attributed to the uptake of nutrients by the trees and the shading of the water by the tree canopy. Many of us would’ve seen eucalyptus trees lined up near runnels or sewage ponds, this is because they absorb surplus wastewater rapidly and release pure water vapour in atmosphere. However, it is important to note that the findings of this study may not apply to all locations or conditions.
- Eucalyptus trees do not directly absorb water from the water table, but rather obtain water from the soil through their root systems. These trees have high transpiration rates and can use significant amounts of water, which can impact water availability in areas where water is already scarce. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the potential impacts of planting eucalyptus trees on water resources before initiating any large-scale planting initiatives.
- Readers can check out the links under the sources section and share their views about this.
- It can be used as a topping on curd.
- Saag comes in varieties such as Chareli( Amaranthus), Sarson ka saag( made of cooked mustard, kale, collards, turnip greens, spinach and mild greens such as chard, bok choy and beet greens)
- Kulfa saag is a bit underrated one but it is a nutritious dish and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants like any other saag.
30 plants are listed here. Together let’s find these around us everywhere and share amongst each other to show gratitude for mother nature. From my end, I’ll keep updating these numbers whichever new, common or old plants come across.
Image credits:
https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-190c92903ea569503b365140659fa59e-lq
https://vindhyabachao.org/images/Medicinal_plants/Dhao/Dhao_4.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/2729646/large.jpg
https://ayushvedah.com/admin/resizer/uploads/0169620001570716137.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/6131530/original.jpeg
https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Grey%20Snoutbean.jpg
https://boisefrontnature.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RIMG0455_1080.jpg
https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Persian%20Lilac.jpg
https://www.botanichealthcare.net/images/products/ziziphus-jujuba.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61O2DaxyBXL.jpg
https://www.plantslive.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/acacia-catechu-plantslive-e1503883397127.jpg
https://nestreeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Callistemon-Viminalis-2-600x600.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/180426177/large.jpg
https://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Shisham.jpg
https://greencoverinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/gulmohar22-1.jpg
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/eucalyptus-tree-branch.jpg
https://rajajinationalpark.org/wp-content/uploads/khabar-1.jpg
https://indiabiodiversity.org/files-api/api/get/raw/img//Ficus%20religiosa/Ficus_religiosa_fruit.jpg
https://5.imimg.com/data5/ANDROID/Default/2022/2/FA/SA/GX/102382160/product-jpeg-500x500.jpg
https://images.news18.com/ibnkhabar/uploads/2023/03/Kulfa-01.jpg
Sources:
https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/india/endangered-plant-species-in-india
https://www.picturethisai.com/region/India-Punjab-Zafarwal.html
https://www.thebetterindia.com/126518/little-known-leafy-green-vegetables-india-need-try/
Silva, A. L. A. et al. (2012). Eucalyptus trees as a tool for water quality improvement in tropical regions. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 223(7), 3853–3863. doi: 10.1007/s11270–012–1188–1
Zhao, D., & Liu, S. (2018). Effects of afforestation on water quality: A review. Forests, 9(11), 667. doi: 10.3390/f9110667
Ma, Y., Liu, Y., & Wu, Y. (2020). Effects of vegetation on water quality improvement: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(2), 1239–1254. doi: 10.1007/s11356–019–06945–6
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations states that “eucalyptus trees are not known to have the capacity to extract water directly from deep aquifers” (FAO, 2014).
TLDR:
Punjab, or “Panchanada”, is a region famous for its production of wheat, rice, maize, oranges, and kinnows. It is also home to a range of native and exotic plants, many with medicinal uses. This article lists 30 plants found in Punjab, including Morpankhi, Kaner, Ber, Bahera, Arjun, Babul, Kikkar, Khair, Bael, Kadam, Bottle Brush, Tun, Kapur, Shisham, Gulmohar, Safeda, Bargad, Bohar, Pipal, Shehtoot, Purslane, Kulfa Saag, and more.
