PRAKRITI, 01st February 2021, Vol.II, Issue 16
Weekly magazine
Quest For Nature
Flora of the week Fauna of the week Bird of the week
Holarrhena pubescens Neurothemis tullia Saxicola maurus or or or Paddy Skimmer Asian stonechat Koraiya
Officers’ Club Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun P R A K R I T I, 1st February, 2 0 2 1, V O L. I, I S S U E 16 FLORA OF THE WEEK
Holarrhena pubescens
Koraiya
Holarrhena pubescens is a species of Description:
flowering plant in the family It is small tree that grows to a Apocynaceae. It is native to central and height of around 25 feet and
southern Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, attracts the passers-by with its Indochina, and parts of China. It is a fascinating, tiny silver-coloured wonderful medicine for dysentery and flowers. This small tree, which used in Homeopathy for the disease in blooms in summer, is known as tincture form. Koraiya. In Ayurveda Known as
Kutaz.
Scientific classification: Interesting Facts: Kingdom: Plantae Koraiya flowers make an
excellent substitute to Clade: Tracheophytes vegetables for a complete meal. Clade: Eudicots
The tree trunk is used to Clade: Asterids
manufacture toys and Order: Gentianales handicrafts like decorative Family: Apocynaceae swords and spears, etc. Subfamily: Apocynoideae
Tribe: Malouetieae
Genus: Holarrhena
Medicinal Property:
The potion prepared from its bark effectively cures dysentery and amoebiasis. If the bark is unavailable, its seeds can be boiled in water to extract the required potion.
The special liquid is also popular as a remedy for heat stroke.
The latex from this plant is a wonder cure for many skin ailments, typhoid and toothache.
Even its leaves are known to provide relief from body ache.
Distribution:
It is native to central and southern Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, and parts of China.
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’ Club Satyapal & Vimal, SFS2019 – 21| P1 V V V P R A K R I T I, 1st February, 2 0 2 1, V O L. II, I S S U E 16 FAUNA OF THE WEEK
Neurothemis tullia
Pied Paddy Skimmer
Neurothemis tullia, the pied paddy skimmer, is a species of
dragonfly . It is a black dragonfly with a pale yellow mid-dorsal carina of thorax. Females differ remarkably from the males both
in body -coloring and markings and in marking of the wings. Its body is greenish yellow with a bright yellow mid-dorsal carina of
thorax. Though seen throughout the year, studies show that they are most
abundant during the summer monsoon – when the water supply is plentiful – and increases the survival rates of the larvae. FEMALE
Habitat:
A conspicuous species of marshes, ponds and paddy fields.
Usually perches on twigs, aquatic weeds and other plants. Very
common along irrigation canals. Flight is slow and weak. Usually perches on twigs, aquatic weeds and other plants. This species is
very common along irrigation canals in paddy fields.
Breeds in marshes and ponds. Flight season: Found throughout
the year. However, peak abundance is during July-September MALE months.
Salient features: Scientific Classification
Male- Face is black, eyes blackish brown, basal half of wing is Kingdom Animalia blue black which is covered by a milky white patch towards tip Phylum Arthropoda
and the tip of wing is transparent. Size of abdomen is 16-20mm Class Insecta
Female- Face is olivaceous yellow, eyes pale brown above which Order Odonata
fade to pale olivaceous below., base wing is bright amber yellow, Family Libellulidae front edge of wing is blackish brown and tip is also blackish Genus Neurothemis brown, Size of abdomen 16-19mm. Species tullia
Distribution:
The Pied Paddy Skimmer (Neurothemis tullia) is a species of dragonfly Distributeed throughout the Oriental region and found in south and south-east Asia. It appears in Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia), Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
Central Academy For State Forest Service Guided by: P.O. New Forest, Dehradun- 248006, Uttarakhand Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS, President Officers’ Club Photography & Compiled by: Ph : 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168; E-mail : [email protected] Shri Pradeep Wahule, IFS, Vice President Officers’ Club Vivek Yadav | SFS 2019 – 21 | P2 V V V a P R A K R I T I, 1st February, 2 0 2 1, V O L. II, I S S U E 16 BIRD OF THE WEEK
Saxicola maurus
Asian Stonechat
Identification:
Saxicola maurus, the stonechat is a small bird, a little smaller than a robin. It has a big head and short tail. The male in breeding plumage has black upperparts and head
(lacking the brownish tones of the European stonechat), a conspicuous white collar, scapular patch and rump, and a restricted area of orange on the throat while non
breeding male is much duller with pale feather edges. The female has pale brown upperparts and head, white neck patches (not a full collar), and a pale, unstreaked
pinkish- yellow rump. Juveniles are dull gray-brown above; underparts show brown feather tips.
Characteristics and Biology: IUCN Status: Least Concern
The Siberian Stonechat is an insectivorous
migratory bird. It occasionally feed on Kingdom Animalia invertebrates as well as seeds. The bird averages a length of 12 cm, a wingspan of 20 Phylum Chordata cm and weigh around 15 g. It breeds in open rough scrubland or rough grassland with Class Avies
scattered shrubs, from sea level to about Order Passeriformes 4,000 m above mean sea level or more. It has an average lifespan of 4-5 years. Eggs Family Muscicapidae
measure 18 mm in length of 4-6 clusters, Genus Saxicola having a deep bluish-green, red-brown spots. It constantly flicks its tail. Species maurus
Fun Fact : Habitat: The birds seem to avoid even cool temperate conditions and stay up north only during the hot continental summer. In the montane regions of the Himalayan
The stonechat is named for its call, foothills of Bhutan, migrants can on occasion be seen foraging in fields and pastures which sounds just like two small more than 2,000 m above mean sea level, but most move further down and south to stones knocking together followed winter in tropical regions. It can frequently be seen sitting on the top of gorse bushes,
by a high and twittering song. flicking its wings and making a call like two small stones being hit together. Stonechats commonly inhabit heaths, bogs and conifer plantations.
Distribution: In winter, it is Adult (Breeding): Male has brown- widespread throughout tropical black head and upperparts with
regions of Asia, Africa and Europe. variably-sized white patches on neck Small numbers reach as far west as and wing; variably orange breast and
western Europe, and exceptionally as flanks. Female is mottled brown-gray far east as Alaska in North America. above. The wintering range of the migratory
bird is from southern Japan, south to Adult (Non-breeding): Much duller Thailand and India, and west to with pale feather edges.
northeast Africa.
Juvenile: Dull gray-brown
Central Academy for State Forest Service GuidedGuided by: by: above; underpartsPhotography show & Compiledbrown feather by: Photography & Compiled by: P.O. New Forest, Dehradun- 248006, Uttarakhand Shri KunaShri lKuna Satyarthi,l Satyarthi, IFS, President, IFS, President, Officers’ Officers’ Club Club tips. R. Lalruatfela | SFS2019 – 21| P3 Ph: 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168;E-mail: [email protected] Shri PradeepShri Pradeep Wahule, Wahule, IFS, Vice IFS, President Vice President, Officers’, Officers’ Club Club Fela SFS2019 – 21| P3 V V Behavior: Constantly flicksV tail.