Heritage Trees-SOFCON

Trees play an important role in maintaining the ecology. Only if the

ecology is made sustainable, the survival of all living things on earth will
be ensured. But of late, without understanding the significance of the
trees, they are indiscriminately felled and removed in the name of
development. Not only should the persons at the top, but also everyone
realize the key role played by trees for the betterment of the globe as a
whole. With these views in mind, the age-old Heritage Trees are being
studied world over and presented to the readers in order to create
awareness about creating more green cover by way of preserving the
existing trees and planting more and more number of trees all over the
world.

Certain important Heritage Trees are discussed here for the benefit of the
readers.

With the view of making the public aware of conserving the Nature, a
movement called Society for Conservation of Nature (SOFCON) was
established at Tiruchy, Tamil Nadu, India.

Through SOFCON, various programmes related to Forestry, Wildlife,

Avifauna, Mangrove Forests, Shola Forests, Environment, Global Warming,
Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Reptiles, Insects, Butterflies, etc., are being
conducted in different Colleges, Schools and other Public Forums.

Important topics are broadcast through All India Radio also.

Interesting articles appear periodically in various News Papers like The

Hindu, The Hindu (Tamil), Times of India, Deccan Chronicles, Dinamalar,
Dinamani, etc.

RAREST TREES FOUND IN YERCAUD

RAREST TREE ENDEMIC TO YERCAUD: Eastern Ghats are known for

rich biodiversity. So far about 2500 flowering plants under 262 genera
belonging to 80 families have been identified in Eastern Ghats. Vernonia
shevaroyensis is the rarest tree found only in Yercaud of Salem district.
This tree is endemic to Shervaroys hills alone. This belongs to the family
Asteraceae. Out of the 11 species of Vernonia (genus), namely
V.andamanica, V.beddomei, V.bourdillonii, V.heynei, V.membranaceae,
V.multibracteata, V.pulneyensis, V.ramaswamii, V.recurva, V.salvifolia and
V.shevaroyensis, this is very rare in distribution. There are only three
trees in the National Orchidarium maintained by the Botanical Survey of
India at Yercaud. Except here, this tree is not found anywhere in the world.
This is known as Malai Suththi in Tamil. The fragrant blue flowers
generally flower during April-May. As the seeds are rudimentary and not
developed properly, they are sterile. There is no new recruitment of
seedlings because of this reason. Now the scientists concerned have
succeeded in developing 5 plants through vegetative propagation.

VERNONIA SHEVAROYANENSIS TREE FOUND ONLY AT NEWLY

DEVELOPED PLANT

YERCAUD
CARNIVOROUS PITCHER PLANT: Nepenthes khasiana (Pitcher plant) is
an insectivorous plant. It is distributed at elevations up to 1,200 m in the
Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills of the State of Meghalaya. This Rare and
Threatened species is also available here. This belongs to the family
Nepenthaceae. Carnivorous plants eat insects and other smaller animals.
These plants get nitrogen from the insects they eat. Pitcher plants are
climbing under-shrubs that often climb by means of the tendrillar stalk of
the pitcher. In this case the leaf becomes modified into a pitcher. The apex
of the leaf is the lid. The mouth of the pitcher remains closed by a lid
which opens and stands erect afterwards. The inner surface is studded
with numerous, large, digestive glands. The pitcher is also partially filled
with fluid. When the foraging, flying or crawling insects enter, slip down
the smooth surface and get drowned in the fluid. The insect cannot get
out of the pitcher as the walls are smooth and slippery and have
numerous smooth, sharp hairs, all pointing downwards. The process of
digestion commences after the death of the insects. The digestive agent
secreted by the glands digests proteins into peptones and the peptones
into amines. Amines are readily absorbed by the pitcher. This plant is
given protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. A Pitcher Plant
sanctuary has been formed in Baghmara in South Garo hills of Meghalaya.
One more sanctuary is also formed at Jiram district.
 CARNIVOROUS PITCHER PLANT FOUND LEAF MODIFIED
INTO PITCHER

IN YERCAUD, SALEM DISTRICT

CENTURIES OLD VENGAI MARAM: The scientific name is Pterocarpus

marsupium. This belongs to the family Lotoideae. The trade name is The
Kino tree. This is called Vengai in Tamil, Venga in Malayalam, Yegi or Yegisi
in Telugu, Bengai or Honne in Kannada and Bijasal in Hindi. A large
deciduous tree found in deciduous forests up to 1370 metres. This is the
most important timber tree of south India, next to Teak and Rosewood.
The timber is used for making spokes, building, furniture, railway
purposes, etc. The gum resin Kino is blood-red when fresh. It becomes
dark-red later and fragments. This is a valuable astringent. It is believed
that infusion of wood, or even drinking water from a cup made of the
wood is helpful for diabetic complaints. In Siddha medical system, the
stem bark, leaf and gum are used for curing dysentery, leucorrhoea,
cough, vomiting, dental diseases, diseases of vatam and skin diseases. In
Ayurveda, the heart-wood, leaf and gum are used for treating leprosy,
worm infestation, wounds, leucoderma and polyuria.
VENGAI MARAM-PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUM-WITH A GIRTH OF 5.1 M,
HEIGHT OF 32 M AND ABOUT 200 YEARS OLD AT YERCAUD ALONG THE
ROADSIDE NEAR 4TH HAIRPIN BEND IN KURUMBAPATTI R.F

PRIDE OF YERCAUD: This tree can be called the Pride of Yercaud as it is

believed to bring prosperity to the people of this place by providing very
good agricultural yield when there is gregarious flowering with bright
white coloured and fragrant flowers. This has winged fruits up to 7.6 cm.
This is classified as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List (IUCN
2011). The scientific name is Shorea talura. This belongs to the family
Dipterocarpaceae. The trade name is Lac tree. This is called Kungiliam,
Jalari or Talari in Tamil, Jalari in Telugu and Thalli, Jal or Jalada in Kannada.
This grows into a large evergreen tree in forests of Eastern Ghats and
Deccan in Cuddapah, erstwhile North Arcot, Anantapur, Mysore and Salem
up to 900 metres. This is found in Western Ghats of Malabar, Coimbatore
and Madurai, sporadic and in hilly country. It blossoms between February
and April. This tree was grown in large numbers and used as a host for the
lac beetle (Laccifer lacca) in order to have lac cultivation. The tree is
largely used as host for the propagation of lac insects and wood used for
house building.
KUNGILIYAM MARAM (JALARI)-SHOREA TALURA-WITH A GIRTH OF 3.2 M,
HEIGHT OF 15 M AND ABOUT 200 YEARS OLD IN ATHUR GHAT RF AT
YERCAUD NEAR KARADIYUR

ACTION REQUIRED: Tamil Nadu is known for many interesting trees

remarkable for their spiritual, cultural, biological and historical values. But
no systematic study has been undertaken so far to identify and prepare a
catalogue of these giant and weird trees. In this scenario, a detailed study
has to be undertaken to discover, identify, photograph and document
these ancient living monuments as they are our rich heritage. Besides the
study, awareness programmes have to be conducted among the villagers,
school and college students and committees are to be formed to protect
these sacred heritage trees.

V.Sundararaju.IFS (R),

President, Society for Conservation of Nature (SOFCON),

Tamil Nadu, India,

Mobile:9443170366.

Mail id: sundarifs.raju@gmail.com.

www.sofcon.org