PRAKRITI, 8th March 2021, Vol. III, Issue 05

Weekly magazine

P R A K R I T I Quest For Nature

Flora of the week Fauna of the week of the week

Citrus maxima Elephas maximus indicus Dendrocygna javanica or or or Pummelo Indian Elephant Indian

Officers’ Club Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun P R A K R I T I 8th MARCH 2021, V O L. III, ISSUE 05 FLORA OF THE WEEK Citrus maxima Pummelo

Introduction: Citrus maxima is a tree 5-15 m tall, with a somewhat crooked trunk 10-30 cm thick; branches low, irregular and spreading. Spines up to 5 cm long. It is commonly known as shaddock, papanus or pummelo or chakotra. Plants have huge capacity to synthesize secondary metabolites such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavo-glycosides and phenols. Leaves compound, appearing simple, having one leaflet, alternate, glandular, dotted, ovate to elliptical, 5-20 cm long and leathery. Flowers fragrant, borne singly or in clusters of 2-10 in the leaf axils, and calyx hairy; the 4-5 petals, yellowish-white, 1.5-3.5 cm long, somewhat hairy on the outside and dotted with yellow-green glands. Stamens 20–25, white, prominent, in bundles of 4-5, anthers orange. Seeds few, large, yellowish-white and white inside; though some fruits may be quite seedy.

Fruit: Fruit ranges from nearly round to oblate or pear-shaped; 10- 30 cm wide; the peel, clinging or more or less easily removed, may be greenish-yellow or pale-yellow, pulp varies from greenish-yellow or pale- yellow to pink or red; is divided into 11-18 segments, very juicy to fairly dry; the flavor varies from mildly Kingdom Plantae sweet and mild to sub-acid or rather Division Magnoliophyta acid. Class Magnoliopsida Order Sapindales Distribution: It is a crop plant of India, China, Japan, Indonesia, USA, Philippine and Family Rutaceae Thailand. It is widely distributed indigenous plant found in Indian Genus Citrus subcontinent. It is a native plant of Asia and commercially grown in India. It is indigenous to East of India. Species maxima

Propagation: The seed is best sown in containers as soon as it is ripe after thoroughly rinsing. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 13°c. Seedlings are liable to damp off so they must be watered with care and kept well ventilated.

Uses: ❖ Excellent to eat, the fruit can also be added to fruit salads or made into jams, marmalade etc. ❖ Leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds, including the treatment of coughs, fevers and gastric disorders. ❖ An essential oil is obtained from the flowers. ❖ The leaves are put into the bath water to add a refreshing aroma.

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 Bhanendra Singh SFS 2019 – 21| P1 Ph : 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168; E-mail : [email protected] Shri Pradeep Wahule, IFS, Vice President, Officers’ Club

PRAKRITI, 08 March 2021, Vol. III, Issue 05 FAUNA OF THE WEEK Indian elephant Elephas maximus indicus

Description :- Indian elephants have large heads, but only short necks. They have short, but powerful legs that support their entire body-weight, like columns. Indian elephants have large ears to help them regulate their body temperature, and to communicate with other elephants; however, their ears are smaller than those of African elephants. Indian elephants also have a more curved spine than the African elephant, and their skin color is lighter than that of the Asian elephant, having smaller patches of skin without pigment. These elephants have long tails that grow down below their knees. Female Indian elephants rarely have tusks, and if they do, the tusks do not grow beyond the mouth. Females reach full weight at 25-30 years of age, whereas the males are not fully grown until they are 35-45 years of age. Conservation Endangered status Habitat:- Indian elephants can be found in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, forests (moist, tropical or dry), and also cultivated forests and scrublands. Scientific classification Distribution of the Indian Elephant :- Kingdom Animalia Indian elephants are the most widely distributed of the three sub-species of Asian Phylum Chordata elephants. They are found throughout southeast Asia, including countries such as Class Mammalia Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, parts of Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Order Proboscidea Behavior of the Indian Elephant :- Family Elephantidae Indian elephants may spend up to 19 hours a day feeding. From this, they defecate about 16-18 times each day, producing about 100 kg of dung. Indian elephants migrate Genus Elephas each year, following strict migration routes, while being led by the eldest member of the Species maximus herd. The migration usually occurs between the wet and dry seasons. Subspecies E. m. indicus

Reproduction of the Indian Elephant :- Females can usually breed when they are 10-15 years old. After a pregnancy of 22 months, they give birth to a single baby which weighs about 100 kg. Elephant calves are cared for by their mothers, and also by other females in the herd (called “aunties”). Calves stay with their mothers until they are about 5 years old, at which time males often leave the herd, but females remain. Interesting Facts About the Indian Elephant Due to their great size, and the wide variety of habitats in which they live, Indian elephants have several adaptations which make them unusual . These often relate to food and water gathering behaviors. Trunk – There are around 150,000 muscles in the trunk, but no bones Tusks – Tusks, which are often used to dig up roots, grow about 6 in (15 cm) a year. Drinking – They can drink 53 gallons (200 liters) of water each day during the summer.

Central Academy for State Forest Service Guided by: 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 Raj kumar sharma|SFS 2019-21 P R A K R I T I 8th Feb 2 0 2 1, V O L. III, I S S U E 05 BIRD OF THE WEEK

Dendrocygna javanica

Indian whistling duck

Identification:

The lesser whistling duck (Dendrocygna javanica), also known as Indian whistling duck or lesser whistling teal, is a species of whistling duck that

breeds in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They have nocturnal feeding behavior that during the day may be found in flocks around lakes

and wet paddy fields. This has brown, long-necked and broad wings which produces a loud two-note wheezy call. It has a chestnut rump,

differentiating it from its larger species, the , which has a creamy white rump. IUCN Status: Least Concern

Biology: Kingdom Animalia

This duck has chestnut upper- Phylum Chordata tail coverts. The ring around the eye is orange to yellow. Class Aves

The crown appears dark and Order the sexes are alike in . Family During flying they very

prominent whistling sound. Genus Dendrocygna

Species javanica

Behaviour and Ecology

Lesser whistling duck are gregarious in nature and feed mainly on plants of water as well as grains from cultivated rice apart

from small fish, and invertebrates such as molluscs and worms. They dabble as well as dive in water. Courtship involves the male facing the female and dipping and raising its bill in the water and swimming around the female. They breed during

the monsoon or rainy season which may changes its breeding time locally in relation to the food availability. The nest site may be a tree hole lined with twigs and grass or built in the fork of a large tree, sometimes it also uses an old nest of a kite or or even on the ground. The white eggs in clutches of 7 to 12 are incubated by both the parents. Large clutches of

up to 17 have been noted although these may be indications of intraspecific brood parasitism. The eggs hatch after about 22–24 days. In one season more than one brood may be raised. The parents may sometimes carried young on their back.

Distribution:

This is a largely resident species distributed widely across

lowland of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The species also occur on islands in the region including the Andamans, Nicobars and Maldives. In response to weather

and changes in water availability they sometimes make local movements and the more northern birds winter further south. They are found in freshwater wetlands with good vegetation

cover and often rest during the day on the banks or even on the open sea in coastal. areas

Guided by: Central Academy for State Forest Service Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS, President, Officers’ Club Photography & Compiled by: P.O. New Forest, Dehradun- 248006, Uttarakhand Shri Pradeep Wahule, IFS, Vice President, Officers’ Club Shireen | SFS2019 – 21| P2 Ph: 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168;E-mail: [email protected] V V V