BangaloreWALKS
History.
Culture. Discovery. |
VIJAY's
MUSINGS
MORE OBITUARIES
Distressingly, we report the loss of a tree at
which we stopped regularly during our Walks. The demise
of this tree took place in the last week of April.
|
Juniper/Liana
Walkers will recall the wonderful
Liana which worked around a Juniper tree
(the African Juniper Tree/Pencil Cedar – originally
brought from Kew Gardens into Lalbagh) using it as
a guide and support to move up towards the sunlight.
The Juniper had already lost its bark to vandals (romantic
? couples) who had etched their names on the heart
wood after ripping off the bark. This must have happened
sometime ago as there no branches and leaves on the
Juniper. However, the Liana starting from the ground
near the Juniper had two separate rope like strands
braided and woven into each other with one strand
spiraling in a clockwise direction and the other strand
in an anticlockwise direction. This formed a wondrous
loose semi- rigid structure around the Juniper. The
Liana sprouted leaves at a height of about 20 ft.
from the ground.
|
 |
| The
Authorities have cut off the dying Juniper tree, but
with it also the wonderful Liana which created the effect
of a dense jungle/rainforest. Lianas
grow in every direction and form: braids, loops, knots,
circles and spirals. We have two grand Lianas in Lalbagh
namely the Bauhinia vahlii and Bauhinia hookerii. These
dominating Lianas spread all over when found in their
natural habitat, such as in the Western Ghats. Some
of them grow to be huge structures with the original
stem/trunk even having a girth of upto 4 feet. The Bahunia
vahlii has been flowering for some time now and is at
the end of its bloom. The Bahunia hookerii near the
Aquarium unfortunately encourages thoughtless young
children into practicing their Tarzan act without any
fear of the Authorities’ reprimands. |
| |
|
Back to Vijay's
Musings Go
Back to Green Heritage Walks Home Go!
|