tropical evergreen rain forests
TRANSCRIPT
8/6/2019 Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests
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Tropical evergreen rain forests: These forests grow in areas where rainfall is more than 200
cm. They are mainly found on the slopes of the Western Ghats and the Northeastern regions of
Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, the Tarai areas of the Himalayas and the
Andaman groups of Islands. The trees in these belts have dense growth. Important varieties of
trees are sishu, chap lash, rosewood, mahogany, bamboos, garjan and sandalwood.
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Description : It is a tall evergreen tree with the small bright green leaves. It is up to 100 feet
tall. It blossoms in spring with the small white flowers. It has a straight trunk. Its bark is hardrough and scaly, fissured even in small trees. The colour of the bark is brown grayish. The
leaves are alternate and consists of several leaflets with serrated edges. Its flowers are small
and white in colour. The loive like edible fruit is oval, round and thin skinned.
Medicinal uses : The indigenous people of Nilgiris consume the dried and powered tubulers of
the terrestrial orchids as an energizing tonic. Neem also holds medicinal value. Each part of
neem is used in the medicines. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicines for more than 4000
years. Neem oil extracted from its seeds is used in medicines, pest control and cosmetics etc.
Its leaves are used in the treat Chickenpox.. According to the Hindus, it is believed that the
Goddess of the chickenpox, Sithala lives in the Neem tree. Neem tea is usually taken to reduce
the headache and fever. Its flowers are used to cure intestinal problems. Neem bark acts as an
analgesic and can cure high fever as of malaria. Even the skin diseases can be cured from the
Neem leaves. Indians even believe that the Neem can even purify diseases.
Other uses : People in India use its twigs to brush their teeth. Neem is considered as the useful
tree in rehabilitating the waste land areas. Neem seed pulp is useful for methane gas
production. It is also useful as carbohydrate which is rich base for other industrial fermentations.
Neem bark contains tannins which are used in tanning and dyeing. In south India its wood is
used to make the furniture. The bark of the yields the fiber that is woven into ropes. Neem cake
is widely used in India as fertilizer for sugarcane, vegetable and other cash crops. Many
countries have been consistently growing the Neem tree against the global warming. The
worldwide Neem Foundation has helped in making the people aware about the importance of
neem and its uses globally.
Cultural Importance : One can find Neem in almost all the parts of India. It is said that planting
Neem tree in the house is a ensured passage to heaven. Its leaves are stung on the main
entrance to remain away from the evil spirits. Brides take bath in the water filled with the Neem
leaves. Newly born babies are laid upon the Neem leaves to provide them with the protective
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aura. Neem gives out more oxygen than other trees. The neem tree is also connected with the
Sun, in the story of Neembark 'The Sun in the Neem tree'. Neem is the wonder tree and finds
mention in the number of ancient texts.
PEEPAL TREE
Description : Peepal is a large, fast growing deciduous tree. It has a heart shaped leaves. It is
a medium size tree and has a large crown with the wonderful wide spreading branches. It shed
its leaves in the month of March and April. The fruits of the Peepal are hidden with the figs. The
figs are ripen in the month of May. The figs which contain the flowers grow in pairs just below
the leaves and look like the berries. Its bark is light gray and peels in patches. Its fruit is purple
in colour. It is one of the longest living trees.
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Medicinal uses : This tree of life has also got the medicinal value. The juice of its leaves
extracted by holding them near the fire can be used as the ear drop. Its power bark has been
used to heal the wounds for years. The bark of the tree is useful in inflammations and glandular
swelling of the neck. Its root bark is useful for stomatitis, clean ulcers, and promotes
granulations. Its roots are also good for gout. The roots are even chewed to prevent gum
diseases. Its fruit is laxative which promotes digestion and checks vomiting. Its ripe fruits are
good for the foul taste, thirst and heart diseases. The powered fruit is taken for Asthma. Itsseeds have proved useful in urinary troubles. The leaves are used to treat constipation.
Other uses : People in India collect the Peepal leaves, clean them, dry them and than paint
them with the gold acrylic in order to preserve them for years. From the bark of the Peepal tree
reddish dye is extracted. Its leaves are used to feed the camels and the elephants. When the
leaves are dried they are used for the decoration purpose.
Cultural importance : Peepal tree has the great importance in India especially among the
Buddhist who regard Peepal tree as the personification of Buddha. Lord Buddha attained
enlightenment mediating under the Peepal tree. It is regarded as the sacred tree and the people
uses its leaves for the religious purposes. According to the Buddha ± 'He who worships thePeepal tree will receive the same reward as if he worshiped me in person'. The Peepal tree has
its own symbolic meaning of Enlightenment and peace. People tie threads of white, red and
yellow silk around it to pray for progeny and rewarding parenthood. Hindus in India holds the
great spiritual regard for the Peepal Tree, they regard it as the tree beneath which Vishnu was
born.
TULSI TREEDescription : Tulsi is a heavy branched having hair all over. It attains the height of
about 75 ± 90 cm. It has round oval shaped leaves which are up to 5 cm long. The leaves are 2-
4 cm in length. Its seeds are flat. Its flowers are purple ± creamish in colour. The Tulsi with the
green leaves is called the Shri Tulsi and one with the reddish leaves is called the Krishna Tulsi.
Its seeds are yellow to reddish in colour. Leaves of Tulsi contains very essential oil.
Other species : Ocimum canum (Ram tulsi or Kali Tulsi), Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum Kilmand,
Ocimum scharicum are the other related species of the Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum).
Location : Tulsi is widely grown in the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and Sasangir National Park in
India. Tulsi grows wild in tropics and warm regions.
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Medicinal uses : Tulsi has got the great medicinal value. Tulsi is taken as the herbal tea. The
oil extracted from the Karpoora Tulsi is mostly used in the herbal toiletry. Its oil is also used
against the insects and bacteria. The Rama Tulsi is the effective remedy for the Severe acute
Respiratory Syndrome. Juice of its leaves gives relief in cold, fever, bronchitis and cough. Tulsi
oil is also used as the ear drop. Tulsi helps in curing malaria. It si very effective against
indigestion, headache, hysteria, insomnia and cholera. The fresh leaves of Tulsi are taken by
the million of people everyday. For over the centuries Tulsi (the queen of herbs) has been
known for its remarkable healing properties.
Other uses : Many people wears the Tulsi beads, which is said to have certain physical and
medicinal properties. Its wood is considered as more powerful than any other gem that helps in
protecting one from the negative influences. One can also buy several handicraft jewellery items
made of Tulsi wood.
Cultural Importance : Tulsi is the sacred plant dearer to the Lord Vishnu. Tulsi symbolises
purity. It is considered as the holy plant in the Indian Subcontinent. Tulsi got its name from
Tulasi Devi, who was one of Lord Krishna's eternal consorts. In India people grow Tulsi as the
religious plant and worship it. Its leaves are used in temples for the worship purposes and also
on the several occasions such as marriage. A Hindu house is considered incomplete without the
Tulsi plant in the courtyard. Tulsi is belived to promote longevity and life long happiness. Hindusperform special Tulsi puja in the Kartik month which starts after Sharad Poornima. It is the time
of the Tulsi vivah (marriage). On this day Tulsi is decorated and coloured as a bride.Even today
people in India maintain a potted Tulsi plant. The womens water the plant, light up the diya near
it and worships it daily. The stems, leaves, seeds and even the soil is considered as holy.
According to the ancient texts Tulsi is glorified as the one who helps in bringing people closer to
the divine.