What trees grow in India. Sacred plant in India
The flora of India is very diverse and unique in its own way.
From this article you will learn about what forests grow in India and what their importance is for the inhabitants of the country.
Due to the location of India and its diverse climatic conditions EVERYTHING grows in this country. Or almost everything.
These include drought-resistant thorny shrubs and tropical plants. evergreen forests. In India, there are more than 20 species of palm trees, ficus trees, and huge giant trees, such as the batangor (up to 40 meters high), sal (about 37 meters), and cotton tree (35 meters high). And the Indian banyan tree simply amazes with its unusual appearance is a tree with hundreds of aerial roots.
According to the Botanical Survey, there are about 45 thousand in India. various types plants, of which more than 5,000 are found in India alone.
On the territory of India there are savannas, woodlands, humid tropical evergreen forests, semi-deserts and deserts, monsoon forests.
People have been influencing for a long time vegetable world their country, as a result of this, nature has been greatly changed, and in some areas almost destroyed.
India once covered dense forests, now there are practically none. And only in the majestic Himalayas and in the highest mountain ranges There are still forests, mostly coniferous. Himalayan cedar, fir, spruce, and pine trees grow there.
At all, forests of india are divided into two types:
— tropical forests within Hindustan;
- forests moderate type, covering the slopes of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level.
Evergreen tropical rainforests stretch in a narrow strip along the Western Ghats, in areas that receive over 3,000 mm of rainfall per year. This is a jungle, trees with tall trunks and very dense foliage. These forests occupy large area, and form natural vegetation from the Himalayas to the Thar Desert.
Most trees shed their leaves for 6 to 8 weeks during the dry season. But, leafless periods different types trees do not coincide, so the forest is completely exposed only in rare cases.
There are many valuable tree species, such as gigantic shorea, or sal wood, from which houses and other structures are most often built, and railway sleepers are made; teak or jat wood. found in the Western Ghats. No less valuable breed is sandalwood native to Karnataka, Terminalia Chebula or Myrobalan used in furniture making. These trees also bear fruits from which tanning agents and dyes, etc. are obtained.
These forests they provide much more, including bamboo for building huts, for weaving baskets and making household utensils, as well as a variety of dyeing, tanning, and medicinal raw materials, essential oils and much more. Also from monsoon forests Shellac is a wax-like substance that is used as an insulating material in radio engineering. Shellac is produced by the lac worm, an insect that lives on the sal tree and some other trees in northeast India.
In drier areas, along the Thar Desert, monsoon forests give way to low bushland, the so-called “thorn forest”. The main species here are acacias, which are used to make small wooden products and to obtain tannins and dyes. From acacia catechu an extract is produced that is used for sails and rigging ropes, as a dye, and is also used to paint Orange color robes of Buddhist monks in Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
More than twenty species of palm trees grow in India. Palm tree is unique plant, having great importance For economic needs in the southwest of the country. For example, the areca palm. Its nuts, mixed with lime and betel pepper leaves, are used to make a very popular chewing mixture.
The coconut palm is also very important; its fruits are used as food by both people and animals.
And at the peaks of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 1,500 - 2,000 meters above sea level, they grow subtropical forests moderate type. From the eastern, wetter part of the mountains, mainly evergreen oaks and chestnuts grow, entwined with numerous vines. In the western part of the mountains, long-coniferous pine is common, producing commercial timber and commercial resin. On the southern slopes of the mountains, the forest is tall, although relatively sparse, consisting of pine, cedar, fir and spruce in a dense layer.
And at the very top of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2,700 - 3,350 meters above sea level, the forest becomes denser, more composed of shrubs such as juniper and rhododendron. But pine still predominates.
So you learned about all the diversity and all the beauty of Indian forests.
In the following articles I will tell you what other plants are found in India. So, see you on the site.
Maria Fetisova
Synonyms: Neem, Margosa, Iranian Melia, Indian Melia, Melia azedarah.
Scientific name: Azadirachta indica.
Family: Meliaceae (mahogany species)
Are used: seeds and leaves containing various components.
Seeds: azadiractin, limonoids, terpenoids, bitter compounds.
Leaves: limonoids, terpenoids.
The undemanding neem tree grows in hot tropical climate.
It reaches a height of 12 meters, and is covered with light gray bark that hides the reddish wood. The ash-colored leaves can reach 50 cm in length, taking on a graceful, feathery shape. Bunches purple flowers, decorating the tree from February to April, emit a smell similar to that of lilac. They produce yellow-golden stone fruits the size of cherries.
HOW TO USE
The Neem tree is believed to work miracles and can cure all human ailments. Unique properties This plant is still being researched.
However, it has already been proven that it has strong anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties and strengthens immune system. For example, neem tree leaf extract has been shown to be effective against 14 types of fungus (including Candida) and many bacteria (such as gangrene bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, and the typhoid pathogen, Salmonella typhosa).
It also prevents viral infections such as smallpox, chickenpox, hepatitis B and herpes.
All parts of the Neem tree are used in Ayurvedic medicine, where the tree is valued for its cooling and drying properties.
Neem tree leaves are often used for daily skin, hair, nails and teeth care. Neem tree leaf extract is widely used as a therapeutic agent due to its mild antiseptic and strengthening effect.
For example, it is used for physical weakness, as well as for hair loss, dandruff, baldness, and eczema caused by nervous stress.
Metabolic problems such as skin spots, acne, inflammation of the nail bed and slow wound healing are also treated with neem tree leaf extract.
The substance azadiractin, extracted from seeds, is used as a safe environment natural pesticide.
INTERESTING FACTS
In India, the Neem tree is dedicated to the goddess Sitala, the healer of smallpox. According to local customs, to protect a house or temple from disease, one must plant a Neem tree in front of its entrance.
Tree branches are used in rituals New Year And spring holidays. When a child is born, people use the branches of the Neem tree to decorate the house so that the child receives the blessings of the gods.
To apologize to Sitala for having to break off her branches sacred tree, people perform a ritual of worship in front of him.
Nowadays, the shady Neem tree is planted on streets and fields as it freshens the air and protects against insects.
For its various properties, in India the Neem tree is sometimes called the “village pharmacy”.
Freshly picked leaves are poured with boiling water, then diluted cold water, used for soothing evening douches.
Young tree branches are used instead of toothbrushes. To do this, a fresh twig needs to be thoroughly chewed (worn out), after which it is used to brush your teeth like a regular toothbrush.
IN last years The neem tree has attracted public attention several times. In 1995, the American agrochemical company W.R. Grace, based on the Neem tree, developed chemical agent to combat harmful insects, and received a patent for its use. But on May 10, 2000, the patent was revoked by the European Patent Office as more than a million Indians took to the streets of Bangalore to protest the patent and the attempt to take away their rights to their holy Neem tree.
USE IN SKIN AND HAIR CARE PRODUCTS
In the Neem tree, the roles of the elements fire, air, water and earth are very evenly balanced. Neither one dominates the other. Being medicinal plant, the Neem tree usually brings harmony and balance to the body, and regulates how nervous system, and the metabolism of the skin and related organs.
Neem tree leaves have been used by WALA since Elisabeth Sigmund, founder of Dr.Hauschka, brought it healing tree from my trip to India.
Leaf extract is contained in such Dr.Hauschka products as:
- Liquid eyeliner
In hair care, neem tree leaves are valued for their scalp strengthening properties.
buy Dr.Hauschka cosmetics in our store
In Vastu, the traditional Indian teaching about the harmony of the universe, several trees are considered especially auspicious. They are permanent inhabitants of the Indian garden, and the components of these trees are actively used in traditional Indian cosmetology.
Vastu for garden and trees
- Ashwatha or pippal. It is considered the most auspicious and divine tree and is revered throughout India. Lord Krishna declared: “Among the trees I am aswatha!” Modern scientists also claim that the tree releases a lot of oxygen, and being under a tree is good for health. According to tradition, this tree should grow near every temple. A tree lives for centuries if it is not cut down.
- Nim. This tree has great medicinal value and also has a pesticide effect. Neem oil is used in physiotherapy, and the seeds, ground into powder, purify water well. Bunches of leaves tied to the front door during festivals are considered auspicious. A mixture of neem and jaggery leaves is offered on the day of Ugadi, which symbolically signifies a promise to equalize the shares of joy and sorrow in life.
- Mango. Most parts of the mango tree have medicinal value. Mango fruits are very tasty and healthy; various seasonings are prepared from them. Bunches of leaves decorate the front door on holidays and the sacred “Kalasha” (water for bathing) during Kalasha Puja. The tree is a long-lived tree and continues to bear fruit even after 500 years.
- Jak (breadfruit). Like the mango tree, jak has many valuable properties and belongs to centuries-old trees. In addition to the huge fruits that ripen once a year, its lovely yellow wood from which furniture, doors, windows, etc. are made. Jaka leaves are considered auspicious and are often used to decorate kalash instead of mango leaves.
- Banana. Decorate with banana leaves entrance doors houses, because they symbolize prosperity and wealth. On banana leaves the treat is often served as they have antibacterial properties. Many temples have flowers tied with cotton thread, but only those tied with banana thread are accepted. They take their rightful place in the offerings to the Lord.
- Coconut palm. This tree is known as Kalpa Vriksha according to Vastu and is considered sacred like Ashwatha. It grows for 100–150 years, and is protected from premature cutting down. Every part of the tree is useful for human life. Throughout the year, coconut is the main offering to the gods. Tender coconut water is one of the main remedies used for abhishek (bathing of the deities).
- Betel. Betel leaves along with areca nuts are as important in sacrifices as coconut, bananas, flowers and agarbatha (incense) and are available all year round. They improve digestion and are recommended for daily consumption after a hearty lunch. Delicate flowers (hingara) are considered auspicious in all religious ceremonies and are an important offering in Naga worship.
- Bilva - trees according to Vastu. Tulsi leaves are used to offer to Vishnu and bilva leaves to Shiva, while Ganesha is offered only special kind herb known as kadike, or garike (durga in Sanskrit). Bilva branches are used in various religious ceremonies. Ayurveda prescribes a mixture of tulsi, bilva and neem leaves as a universal remedy for most human diseases.
- Sandalwood according to Vastu. Not a single puja or religious ceremony is complete without sandalwood incense. Sandalwood is also used for various crafts. Sandalwood oil is highly prized throughout the world for its own use and for making incense.
- Sarson. The biggest fun in ancient india was accompanied by a spring festival celebrated in honor of Kama. In a slightly modified form, the Indian spring festival has survived to this day. It falls in the first week of February when the sarson blooms. Women wear yellow saris and men wear saffron turbans. During the holiday, girls sacrifice young shoots of crops to the god of love and let them sacred waters Ganga and Yamuna many lit clay lamps.
- Ashoka. In India, red has long been considered the color of love, passion and devotion, therefore the Ashoka tree, which blooms with red flowers, is associated with the cult of Kamadeva. The people's favorite holiday, dedicated to the collection of Ashoka flowers, was celebrated in the spring. The young women participating in this ritual wore beautiful dresses and wove Ashoka flowers into their jet-black hair. The Ashoka tree was associated with ideas of youth and beauty. There was a belief that it blooms only at the moment when, completing the dance, a young pretty girl touches its roots with her left foot.
- Indian Saraca (Saraca indica) is a Vastu tree from the legume family, amazingly beautiful in bloom. The Ashoka flower has no petals, but the brightly colored lobes of the flower's calyx completely replace them. Kalidasa, the court poet of Chandragupta II, in his book Ritusamara (Carnival of the Seasons), describes the Ashoka trees with their young foliage, flowing in clusters, among which shine coral-red flowers, instilling longing in the hearts of young maidens.
- Sal. In the ancient city of Sravashti, which once flourished on the site of the modern Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh, Salabanjika, the festival of women and trees, was celebrated on a grand scale. Those women who wanted to have offspring worshiped flowering tree lard The sight of Shorea robusta in full bloom is impossible to forget. IN last week In March, it is completely covered with fragrant creamy inflorescences.
Meditation under a tree
If you have a completely incorrect layout of your house, which you are unable to change, Vastu Shastra recommends going outside in the morning before work, touching a tree and devoting yourself entirely to contact with it for at least 15 minutes.
If you have serious personal problems, you should pay more attention to this ritual and meditate under a tree for about half an hour before sunrise for 48 or 108 days.
As always in such cases, the technique can be modified in accordance with the existing conditions: either interact with a tree of another species, or grow a seedling of a favorable Indian wood at home.
4 types of auspicious gardens according to Vastu
- The Pramododian Garden was intended for the delight of kings and queens.
- The Udian Garden is only for kings; here the rulers spent time playing chess with their courtiers, admiring the dances of dancers and listening to the puns of their jesters.
- In the garden of Brixvatika, priests and courtiers had fun with women,
- Nandanvan Garden was dedicated to the god Indra.
Vatsayana recommended building a house near a pond and surrounding it with an Udian garden. Lilies and lotuses were grown in such ponds. In the garden adjacent to the house, somewhere in the shade of strong neem or peepal branches, a swing was always hung.
Responsibilities of the housewife and in the home garden according to Vastu
Vatsayana writes: “A virtuous woman who loves her husband should act in accordance with his wishes, as if he were a deity, and with his consent, take upon herself all the care of the family. She must keep the entire house clean and place all kinds of flowers in its various rooms. She should surround the house with a garden.
She should arrange in the garden
- beds with herbs,
- sugar cane plots,
- curtains fig trees,
- and also plant various flowers,
- and next to them are fragrant herbs
- and aromatic roots.
According to Vastu Shastra, the housewife should also arrange sitting areas and gazebos in the garden, and dig a well or pond between them.”
Yuntsang, who visited India in 630, when King Harshi of Kanauja ruled there, describes his observations as follows: “They are engaged in cultivating the land, and their duty is to sow and reap, plow and harrow, as well as weed and grow crops in accordance with time of year. Having worked hard, they rest as much as they should.
Among the products of the earth, rice and wheat are especially abundant. Of the edible herbs and other plants, we can name ginger and mustard, melon, pumpkin and others. Onions and garlic are grown in small quantities, and few people eat them, and if anyone eats them, he will be thrown outside the city walls...
If we talk about wines and spirits, they are available in great variety. Kshatriyas drink the juices of grapes and sugar cane, vaishyas prefer strong stimulating drinks, and sramanas and brahmanas prefer a kind of syrup made from grapes or sugar cane.”
The use of trees in cosmetology
Kalidasa, describing the decorations of women of his time in Meghaduta, remarks: “The women of Alakapuri rub their cheeks with the pollen of the flowering lodra. Magya flowers decorate their temples, kurawaki corollas hang from their bunned hair, and syriza shades their ears. When the monsoon blows, the heads of these lovely creatures are crowned with kadamba flowers, and they carry a pink lotus in their hands.”
Describing women's toilets, he mentions that women rub aromatic oil of white sandalwood into their bodies, hang garlands of white jasmine on their chests, and soak their hair with the incense of champaka flowers. During the rainy season, they decorate their heads with garlands of kadamba, kesara, kukuba and ketaka.
From the wall paintings in the Ajanta caves (200–600 AD), one can also judge the culture of that distant era. In the paintings you can see women with flowers in their hair, on their chests (instead of brooches) and on their wrists (in the form of bracelets).
And now Maharashtrian women also wear flowers in their hair and decorate their wrists with jasmine bracelets. Also, women in India from ancient times learned the art of laying beautiful geometric patterns of flowers on the floor, weaving garlands and preparing incense. In summer, jasmine and bilva garlands can be found all over India.
March 12th, 2015 , 12:23 pm
Yes India and Goa. My latest hobby is unusual old trees. And so, Ficus Bengalis, aka Banyan and the Bodhi tree is one shrine and the second is the Bodhi tree- People. The idealist’s dream came true, to see this beauty for himself, to lean against the tree of “Wishes” and hug it, to ask for the secret. Since I had a scooter at my disposal, I was able to meet “Bodhi” in different places. In short, it was under this tree that the Prince had an epiphany and he became Buddha...
About Banyan, now I have this image of my own: a holy tree of trees, since it does not have bark like an oak, but there are other trees...
An interesting point is that if the Banyan is surrounded by a special siege and represents a place of prayer: with elements of the Altar, photographs of Shiva, and with offerings, then one must approach it with shoes off, as if to a holy purgatory. Even if you are a foreigner and have not taken off your shoes, when the local Indians see this, they will raise a terrible howl of protest... Now the details:
This unusual Banyan tree is located in the Ornamental Garden, next to Mandrem, there is a shadow from it, so the benches were placed with intention, there is no need to rush here...
But in Arambol itself, under the weeping Bansai, local Hindus always sit and enjoy life as it is... This tree has very long hanging roots, which indicates its age...
from Arambol we head to Holy place jungle, where under a very old Bansai lives a hermit, the oldest "Babu". Babu knows yoga and the Reiki system, there are five principles of Reiki:
- don’t worry right now
- don’t be angry right now
- respect loved ones, teachers and elders
- earn your living honestly
- thank all living things.
Babu is 75 years old and has lived in this place for about 42 years ( taken from his words), more details in a separate material: “the road to the Bab”...
This is what the Bansai looked like, under which the Beatles meditated. :
And Babu himself, near Bansai:
In the Jungle here you come across these unusual snake trees (vines):
Or this one, also a prayed tree with root blades, also known as Chilamate Ficus. Perhaps the same name is rubber ficus...
Large tree with dragon roots
In general, in the Jungle there are elements of wild nature that are much higher than humans... moment - tree over the holy source of clay, and the tree Idol...
After visiting Babu and the jungle, you can move on...
So beyond the village of Arambol, there is a road to the village of Kirim and its sandy beach. These are the Bansai that grow here. This wide Bansai is also interesting because local schoolchildren relax under it. Since they all have school uniforms with ties, they need a shade.
Go to Redi Fort, next to wild beach Paradise, also inviting the mystic...
Next to the Beautiful Temple, if you turn where the last rickshaw stop is, on the road to the Fort, to the left and drive 200 meters, the holy Bodhi grows, looking like this:
This Peepal
- Ficus religiosa (Ficus sacred) with leaves with hearts. A sacred space is organized around it, with an elephant and offerings. Yogis sitting under these trees receive insight. Banyan trees and peepal trees are not called “talking” trees for nothing. They give a person the ability of telepathy, answer various life questions...
(C)(C)(C)(C)(C)(C)
Further, a little before reaching the Fort, on the right grows the fat Bansai, revered by the locals, approach only barefoot, it is wrapped in religious ribbons and rags...
And finally, an ancient dilapidated Fort, with Fairytale spider trees... It’s always quiet and cool here, flocks of monkeys run nearby and wild nature fascinates with its mysticism, the Portuguese era of conquest... It seems to me that a lot of different dark Spirits and Ghosts live here...
That's the tree Strangler ficus benjamina. Some “stranglers”, such as Ficus caulocarpa, send down roots, tightly enveloping the trunk of their host, which subsequently dies due to lack of light and only the frame of the Strangler tree remains....
Here, among the tall grass, thorny bushes and green burdocks, you can wander for a long time... I came across the most popular Bansai here, here it is (sudden)...
Here are the spider roots again, the tree Strangler...
And one more thing, don’t meet local girls here, it’s dangerous, you might get caught by mermaids...
The mango tree is also sacred, under it the Buddha had his conversations with his disciples, the mango here is very beautiful...
Of course, in GOA, I wanted to see a bush tree on which “Rudraksha” (seeds for holy beads and rosaries) grow, that is, the tears of Shiva, but this is already on the Ganges River...
But the place of the largest Shiva in the World, Karnataka state, the village of Murdeshwar, nearby is the Om beach.
Near the ancient temple, two trees grow: Magnolia in the photo.
And this is the sacred Bansai with an altar:
There is a holy Tulsi tree in the temple, located in a box like this...
And so, such holy Babu, under the golden Bansai...
In Gokarna itself, the place where every believing pilgrim gets rid of hundreds of sins at once, there are also sacred Bansai...
This is a photo at the temple, where pilgrims ask spiritual powers to give them a baby, next to Saint Bansai and near him an altar with offerings...
From close up, Bansai's weaves look very unusual:
Everyone!!! I recommend a trip to Gokarna and Shiva...
Being at the Night Market, in Arbor, I watched amazing picture, "night, there is trance music and people dancing around dry, big tree", hung with garlands", and this is repeated on the two upper platforms... The trees are really big and thick, larger than in the photo... -And the dancing girls have wreaths with flowers on their heads, it looks soulful... many people smoke around " tobacco", for enlightenment, the event lasts until 5 am...
And then, you need to eat a big shawarma, which they do excellently here...
Another photo, at the roots of an amazing, big coniferous tree, at the MamaGoa-Ashwem Hotel...
There is also a Champa tree with Plumeria flowers and their magnificent aroma. The flowers are from 5 to 10 cm, they have a very beautiful white or pink color...
In India "Plumeria" called - Tree Life and is considered Krishna's favorite flower. The aroma of Plumeria should remind people of the beauty of the endless...
Today, private spice plantations, the “gold of India,” attract people interested in national culture countries, in particular landscape specialists and owners of country estates.
To truly appreciate the richness of nature in western India, known to us for its numerous herbs and spices, you need to visit private plantations located in the state of Goa on the coast of the Arabian Sea.
The fruits of the plants grown here were once worth their weight in gold and attracted travelers (in particular, the Portuguese), who cherished the hope of becoming fabulously rich, gaining fame and position in society. Many plants were brought here by the Portuguese themselves.
Exotic plants
The oldest spice plantations are more than 200 years old, some occupy 30–50 hectares. Particularly different central part Goa (Ponda region). In swampy and mountainous landscapes among picturesque jungles, gardens of exotic plants are grown - Tropical Spaice Plantation (spice plantations), where cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, betel, ginger, vanilla, coriander, cumin, curry, black pepper, capsicum/chili, turmeric, coriander and other plants.
There are also plantings of fruit and nut crops: pineapples, coconuts, cashews, almonds, nutmeg, papaya, ajana, guava, citrus fruits (pomelo, sour and sweet limes, Persian lemon), bananas, mangoes, mustard apple, carom and jackfruit. Some plantations have turned into tourist centers, where experts are happy to talk about the peculiarities of growing tropical plants, their use in Ayurveda, cooking, cosmetics.
Picturesque scenery
The path to one of the gardens, where a variety of plants are displayed, leads through picturesque scenery. Multi-colored bushes flank the path on both sides and lead to a suspension bridge over a pond.
The long path along the springy boardwalk turns into a delightful attraction. Attention is attracted not only by the lace of algae underfoot, but also by the colorful landscape around: a palm tree hanging over the water, codeum tapeworms among the thickets tropical forest, flowering aquatic plants...
Exotic fruit
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a plant of the Mulberry family. This evergreen tree, reaching a height of 20 m. The leaves are oblong, oval or elliptical, 10–15 cm long, leathery, glossy, dark green. Flowers are pollinated by wind and insects. In cultivation, jackfruit is often hand pollinated. The fruits (fruits) of jackfruit are large, edible, weighing up to 34 kg.
Plantation gifts
The plantation is more like a cultivated jungle: there are no ordered rows of plantings, the trees grow so close that the harvest must be harvested only by hand. Clean water is used for watering plants. natural water, the soil is fertilized with cow and elephant dung, so the harvest is environmentally friendly.
The private residential area of the plantation is surrounded by parapets made of impressive blocks of elephant dung, with a vanilla vine climbing over them. Despite the tropical humidity and water sources, the area is equipped with an irrigation system.
The nature of Goa is magnificent due to its mild and cool climate. Average annual temperature air and water about +28 0 C. Evergreen humid tropical and mangrove forests, teak and breadfruit trees, coconut palms, thickets of bamboo and sugar cane, plantations of fruits, rice, cashews and areca, as well as spices - this is its wealth.
Betel palm
Along the way there is often a tall (20 m) betel palm, or Areca catechu (Agesa catechu), whose pinnate leaves are 1.5–2 m long. Areca palm plantations, the fruits and seeds of which are actively imported, occupy about 120 thousand hectares. The elliptical orange or red drupes contain a thick fibrous mesocarp and a large stone with a woody shell and a hard light brown seed called the “betel nut”.
IN rural settlements Among the tropics there is a tradition of chewing betel, a multi-component plant chewing gum that tonics the nervous system.
Fragrant vanilla
Only a few plantations in India, one of which is in Goa, grow Vanilla planifolia, the fruits of which are very expensive on the market, because it blooms once every seven years, and the ripening of the fruit lasts about 9 months. Planters have to take measures to protect their land, because vanilla is often stolen: a kilogram of vanilla sticks can cost several hundred dollars.
The liana can climb high (up to 35 m) on trees, holding onto a support with a grassy stem with numerous long and strong aerial roots. On plantations, the shoot is cut at the height of human growth, stimulating increased flowering; Without vanilla, it grows small and produces a few flowers.
Vanilla, which originates from Mexico, where it is pollinated by a special species of butterfly, is pollinated artificially (with a brush) in India. So the plant began to produce elongated (10–30 cm), narrow green fruits formed from a delicate ovary - cylindrical triangular boxes.
Armfuls of pods are steamed in vats and placed in wooden chests for three weeks, wrapped in blankets. Afterwards, the vanilla is dried on mats under the sun, and after a month they are sorted and sorted: if the pod sticks to your fingers, the spice is ready.
King of spices - pepper
Various trees are entwined with a moisture-loving tree-like vine - the “king of spices”, black pepper (Piper nigrum), reaching a length of 6–15 m. It was the burning taste of the fruits, spherical drupes with a hard shell, that contributed to the worldwide popularity of the spicy, aromatic spice. It requires high air humidity, bright places, prefers heavy turf-leaf soil with humus and sand. The shoots begin to bear fruit after 2–3 years, their growth is limited to 5 m. When the fruits turn red, they are harvested: the fruits turn black when dried in the sun. Green pepper obtained by dry drying unripe black pepper fruits.
Holy basil
While walking through the garden, we discover an altar, on top of which a perennial fragrant sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum), which is called Tulasi. According to beliefs, one of the most sacred plants has amazing properties: it clears the mind, strengthens the nerves, improves memory, cleanses the aura, and imparts the energy of divine love.
Basil leaves are added to tea: a handful of fresh, washed leaves are poured with a liter of boiling water and left for 5 minutes. brew, strain, sweeten with honey and drink 1–2 cups a day. Tea strengthens the immune system and helps cope with stress, lifting your mood, improves digestion, and relieves flatulence.
Real cardamom
Called the "Queen of Spices" true cardamom (Elettaria cardamomun), or small cardamom, is the second most important spice in India, the most valuable and consumed in the world. Heat-loving and moisture-loving cardamom is grown in the shade of humid mountain forests on limestone soils. The tall (3–4 m) perennial is distinguished by a powerful creeping rhizome and two ground stems. For 15 years, it bears fruit in three-chambered capsules, which are selectively harvested slightly unripe.
The boxes are dried in the sun: inside small green capsules there are 3-4 black, shiny seeds with a very sharp, lemony, spicy-burning taste and a sweetish, spicy aroma.
To prevent cardamom from losing its flavor, it is stored in capsules and the seeds are ground before preparing (for example, curry mixture/sauce and masala tea). Cardamom is widely used in Ayurveda and official medicine many countries, it serves as a fragrance for medicines, cosmetic products and soaps.
The perfect spice – cinnamon
During the excursion we hear the fragrance of a plantation of small (10–15 m) evergreen trees Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) of the Laurel family, its name translated from Greek means “ impeccable spice" Cultivated plantings are planted near water bodies, since plants need an abundance of groundwater.
Cinnamon is obtained from the inner layer of the bark, dried in the sun, it looks like rolled thin tubes or powder with a soft brown color, has a sweetish, bitter taste and a thick, warm, slightly citrus aroma. In Ayurveda it is used as natural antibiotic, has antiseptic and strengthening properties, stimulates blood circulation and metabolism.