PRAKRITI, 03rd May 2021, Vol. III, Issue 13

Weekly magazine

P R A K R I T I Quest For Nature

Flora of the week Fauna of the week Bird of the week

Calamus rotang Camelus dromedarius Larus canus or or or (Bet) Camel Common gull

Officers’ Club Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun P R A K R I T I, 03rd May 2 0 2 1, V O L. III, I S S U E 13 FLORA OF THE WEEK

Calamus rotang

Rattan (Bet) It is extremely flexible and uniform in thickness, and frequently has sheaths and petioles armed with backward-facing spines which enable it to scramble over

other . It has pinnate, alternate leaves, 60–80 cm long, armed with two rows of spines on the upper face. The plants are dioecious, and flowers are clustered

in attractive inflorescences, enclosed by spiny spathes. The edible fruits are top- shaped, covered in shiny, reddish-brown imbricate scales, and exude an

astringent red resin known medicinally and commercially as "Dragon's blood".

Habitat and

distribution: -

It is native to , Sri Kingdom Plantae Lanka, and Myanmar but Phylum Tracheophyta

can now be found Class Liliopsida throughout Southeast Order Asia. It is distributed Family mainly in the Deccan

Peninsula of India. Calamus

Species rotang

Physical Character: - Calamus rotang is an evergreen Climber growing to 25 m (82ft) by 5m (16ft) at a fast rate.

It is hardy to zone (UK) 10 and is frost tender. The is not self-fertile.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and

basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. These species are mainly distributed in semi-evergreen, moist deciduous and riverine forest patches where moisture content is more. Most of the species of

the genus help improve the economy of local people, both rural and tribal, as they produce raw material for the cottage industry.

Uses: -

In medicine against respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. It is also used as treatment for wound, diarrhea, fever, dysentery, mouth ulcers, and skin conditions.

The wood of C. rotang is also used medicinally to expel intestinal worms. The leaves are used for biliousness and blood diseases, and the root for fevers and as antidote to snake venom. C. rotang yields the best rattan cane among other species. It is split into strips and plaited, used in baskets, chairs, and carriages, made into ropes, etc

Central Academy For State Forest Service Guided by: Photography &Compiled by: P.O. New Forest, Dehradun- 248006, Uttarakhand ShriKunalSatyarthi, IFS, President, Officers’ Club PANKAJ KUMAR| SFS 2019 – 21| P1 Ph : 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168; E-mail : [email protected] ShriPradeepWahule, IFS, Vice President, Officers’ Club V V V a a a P R A K R I T I, 03rd May, 2 0 2 1, Vol. III I S S U E 13 FAUNA OF THE WEEK Camelus dromedarius

Camel

Camelus dromedarius is an even-toed ungulate that bears fatty

deposits known as humps on its back, long legs and a big-lipped

snout. Stored fat in humps which they can metabolize when food and water is scarce. Camel’s mouth has a thick leathery allowing

them to chew thorny desert plants. Long eyelashes and ear hairs

together with nostrils that can close from a barrier against the sand.

Sand up the nose is not a problem to camels, they can shut their nostrils during sandstorms.it grows to shoulder height 6.5 feet and a

body length of 10 feet, they normally weigh 400kg to 600kg.

Camels are herbivores. They can drink 113 litre of water in just 13 minutes. When there is little food and water the camel’s hump

releases water.9.3 gm of fat releases 1.13 gm of water approx.

Camel’s hair helps them stay cool in a very hot temp. Its speed

40mile/hr.

Behaviour and Ecology: Kingdom Animalia

Domestic camels are maintained in a semi wild state. Wild camels are Phylum Chordata

extremely shy. They browse or graze 6-8 hrs. Each day forms small Class Mammallia

groups of (2-15) animals. Rutting male cry “blo-blo-blo”. Male rubs Order Artiodactyla

back of head against shoulders. If necessary, can travel 150 km in 15- Family Camelidae Camelus 20 hrs. As speed 65km/hr, Domestic can swim. Genus

Species Dromedarius

Habitat and adaptation:

The camel has many adaptive traits for their life in the desert. They have wide feet for walking in sand. They have

long eyelashes and thin, slit nostrils that they can close to protect them from blowing sand. They are adapted to

survive a long time without water and food.

Distribution and migration:

There are around 14 million camels alive as of 2010, with 90% being Dromedaries. These alive today are

domesticated animals. Mostly living in the horn of Africa, Middle east and south Asia. Large population of

dromedaries are feral in Australia. Bactrian camel as of 2010 reduced to 1.4 million most of which are domesticated.

The wild Bactrian camel is separate species and is the true wild camel in the world. The wild camels are critically

endangered inhabiting the Gobi and Taklamakan in china and Mongolia.

Central Academy For State Forest Service Guided by: Photography & Compiled by: P.O. New Forest, Dehradun- 248006, Uttarakhand Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS, President Officers’ Club Ph : 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168; E-mail : [email protected] Shri Pradeep Wahule, IFS, Vice President Officers’ Pradeep Kumar | SFS2019 – 21| P2 Club V V V PRAKRITI, 03rd May 2021, Vol. III, Issue 13 BIRD OF THE WEEK Larus canus

Common gull

Gulls are typically medium to large birds, usually grey or white, often with black marking on head or wings. They typically have harsh walling or squawking calls. Most gulls are ground-nesting carnivores.

Size: Gulls range in size from the little gull, 29 cm to great black-backed gull, 76 cm.

Weight: Varies from 120 grams to 1.75 kg

Diet: Live food which includes crustaceans, molluscs, fish and small birds.

Incubation: 22 to 26 days

Clutch Size: 1 to 3 eggs

Life Span: Maximum 49 years. Range: The gulls have worldwide cosmopolitan distribution. The breed on every Kingdom: Animalia continent, including margins of Antarctica, and found in the high arctic as well. Most gull species are migratory, with birds moving to warmer habitats during the winter. Phylum: Chordata

Habitat: Many species breed in coastal colonies, with a preference for islands, the grey Class: Aves gull, breeds in the interior of dry deserts far from water. Considerable variety exists in Order: Charadriiformes the family and species may breed in marine, fresh water, or terrestrial habitats. Family: Laridae Fun Facts: Genus: Larus They are known as efficient garbage collectors, have helped to keep beaches a bit cleaner due to their scavenging nature. Species: canus Seagulls often steal food from other birds, animals and people.

Mostly they breed colonially near water or in marshes, making lined nest on the ground or in small tree, colony size varies from 2 to 320 or even more pairs. Usually three eggs are laid; they hatch after 24-26 days, with the chicks fledging after a further 30-35 days. They take two to three years to reach maturity. The call is high-pitched “laughing” cry. They have black wingtips with large white “mirrors”. They have yellowish-green legs and webbed feet. Male and female gulls have a similar appearance, although males usually are a bit larger. The wingspan is usually around 119 to 122 cm in length. Their beak is dark with a pink undertone.

Distribution:

In India, wintering populations of black-headed gull occur in states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Central Academy for State Forest Service Guided by: Photography & Compiled by: P.O. New Forest, Dehradun, 248006, Uttarakhand Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS, President Officers’ Club Ph: 0135-2754575/Fax: 0135-2756168 Shri Pradeep Wahule, IFS, Vice President, Officers’ Club Rakesh Chandra Yadav |SFS 2019-21