Gymnocladus Burmanicus C
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 8(4), October 2009, pp. 482-484
Culturally important Dekang (Gymnocladus burmanicus C. E. Parkinson) − An addition to the flora of India from Arunachal Pradesh
Ranjay K Singh 1* , RC Srivastava 2, Adi Community 3 & TK Mukherjee 4 1College of Horticulture & Forestry, CAU, Pasighat 791 102, Arunachal Pradesh, (*Present address: Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, ICAR, Jarifa farm, Karnal 132 001, Haryana); 2Botanical Survey of India, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh; 3 The Adi community members of Yagrung, Miram, Sibut, Aying, Mebo and Koyu Villages, East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, 4 National Institute of Science Communication And Information Resources, New Delhi 110 012, E-mails: [email protected], [email protected]
Received 13 September 2007; revised 3 July 2008
Paper deals with the taxonomy, ecology, phynology, cultural and tradtional usage of Dekang (Gymnocladus burmanicus C.E. Parkinson, family Fabaceae ( s.l .) used by the Adi and Galo tribes. Present study revealed that Dekang is found at altitude varying from 160 to 200 meters in the community forest of Adi and Galo tribes in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The pods of the tree are used in shampoo, soap, dermatological disorders, and for attracting the deer for hunting. There is an urgent need for the conservation of Dekang tree ( Gymnocladus burmanicus C. E. Parkinson).
Kewords: New record/India/Arunachal Pradesh, Adi tribe, Galo tribe, Ethnobotany, Ethnic usage, Ecology, Phenology IPC Int. Cl. 8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P17/00
During the course of studies on plant and cultural circumference at the height of 1.9 m from the gorund. diversity of Arunachal pradesh, an interesting tree Leaves compound, 48-51x 27cm; leaflets lanceolate, which has been associted with the Adi culture since 1.8-5.6 x 0.9-1.7 cm, acute at apices narrowed at base; remote epoch (known as dekang tree among the Adi basal leaflets smaller, middle leaflets largest. Pods tribe) was recorded from the hills of Yagrung, Miram, 12.5-17 x 2.7-3.7 cm, pointed at apices, attenuate at Sibut, Aying, Mebo and Koyu community forest of base. Seeds globose, black, shining. East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh. On critical F. l. & F. r.: April-August. studies, it was identified as the Gymnocladus Exsiccata: Arunachal Pradesh, East Siang district, burmanicus C. E. Parkinson of the legume family Yagrung and Miram community forest, R. K. Singh (Fabaceae, s.l .). Perusal of the literature and surfing of 102 (ARUN). the internet revealed that this species occures in Thaliand also where it is considered as semi- Ecology endangered and vulnerable species 1. During study, 15 The ecological niches under the forest where trees within ca 20 sq. km area around Mebo, Yagrung, dekang trees were recorded is situated at a height Sibut, Miram, Aying and Koyu community forest ranging from 160 to 200 meters from sea level within localities of East Siang district of Arunchal Pradesh geographical limits of latitude 28.0667, 28° 4' 0" N were recorded. Over 300 trees have been grown and longitude 95.3333, 95° 19' 60" E. Dekang grows during present study from the seeds. well in the hot and humid climate. It needs average Brief description along with photoghraphs of this daytime temperature that varies from 32°C in summer culturally and economically important tree is given to to around 16°C in winter. At the night it requires facilittate its identification in the field (Figs. 1-13). average winter temperature around 8°C, while in ° Gymnocladus burmanicus C.E. Parkison summer 14 C. It grows around the dense vegetation of (Fabaceae s.l. )- (Figs.1-13) bamboo and cane species, toko-patta ( Livistonia Local name: Dekang (Adi ), Deka ( Galo/Galong ) jekintiana ) and other shrubs. Trees are found near the Trees, upto 14.5 m high, upto 2.3 m in natural drains in light black soil with sufficient ______percentage of moisture. No seedlings were found *Corresponding author under the shade of matured tree or nearby areas. 483 SINGH et al .: CULTURALLY IMPORTANT DEKANG FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 8, No. 4, OCTOBER 2009 484
Seeds germination well known among the elders of Pasi, Padam, Pangi, Dormancy is a problem in dekang seed’s Minyong and other ethnic groups (sub-tribes) of Adi germination as experienced by the local people. An tribe but with other name, for example, as deka experiment was conducted to record the germination among Galong tribe. To maintain the separate percentage of dekang . In normal condition, its identity, now people of Galong sub-tribe call germination percentage recorded was 35 to 62%, themselves as Galo . They are removing letters ng while, after treating with cow dung (kept in the bolls from the most of words and terminology used in day of cow dung for three days) the germination was 65 to to day life. That’s why this tree is known as deka 82%. In third treatment, the seeds were sown in the 5 among Galo. The Galo also use dekang fruits as cm depth of soil under the shade of toko-patta tree hunting material to attract the deer and also as and covered with the leaves of toko -tree. After every medicine (7-8% among Galo ). A big difference alternate day, the watering was made with sprinkler to between elders and younger generation about the maintain moisture in soil bed in case of no rain during knowledge and use of deka pods was observed among the month of May. After a gap of 7 days, the covered Galo . toko -patta leaves were removed and 52 to 73% This tree is culturally and medicinally important; germination was recorded. and local people also perceive that the population of this tree has reduced over the last 40 yrs in the Cultural and traditional usage of dekang by Adi community forests caused by many anthropogenic community and policy factors. Some of local traditional Elders of the surveyed villages mentioned that biodiversity conservators (like Mrs Omang Tamuk of dekang is used in various medicinal and cultural Yagrung village) are taking interest to conserve the purposes. The pods have foul smell (but almost 40% dekang tree (Fig. 14). However, this effort is meager, lesser than the smell found in Gymnocladus and massive community based grassroots approaches assamicus , which grows at the altitude of 4,500- are needed immediately from the environmental 5,000m msl in Dirang, West Kameng district of agencies and State Government so that dynamics of Arunachal Pradesh). Mature pods are used in curing biocultural diversity found around the dekang tree skin allergy, itching and boils. Further, the matured species could be conserved. pods are used as shampoo for cleaning dandruff and as soap for cleaning cloths by the elder people of Adi community. Though, its use was recorded by only References 12% among the villages mentioned above, however it 1 Anonymous, The list of endemic, rare and was restricted among middle (35-45 yrs) to elders endangered plants in Thailand , (CHM-Thai, (>50 yrs) group only. None of its user recorded was Thailand Environmental Agency), (2009), among the younger generation. The pods of dekang