PRAKRITI, 29th March 2021, Vol. III, Issue 08

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

Motacilla Mallotus philippensis tecta maderaspatensis or or or Rohini Indian roofed White –browed wagtail

Officers’ Club Central Academy for State Forest Service, Dehradun PRAKRITI, 29 th March 2020, VOL. III, ISSUE 08 FLORA OF THE WEEK Mallotus philippensis Rohini

Kamala tree is common in evergreen forest, especially in secondary forest, and sometimes even dominant in the undergrowth. Kamala tree withstands considerable shade; it is frost-hardy and resistant to drought . Its bark is much liked by elephants.

Common Names

Hindi: Kamala, Sindur, Rohini, Kumkum and Monkey-face tree

Morphology  Trees are small to medium sized monoecious in nature, upto 25m tall and with

a bole up to 50 cm in diameter.

 Leaves are alternate and simple, more or less leathery, ovate to lanceolate  The fruit is three-lobbed and is covered with a fine felt of red glands on the surface. These are collected and a powder known as Kamala.

Economic importance  Kamala is supposed to be a very useful tree. It is source of Kamala dye which is used in colouring silk and wool.

 It is used as anti-oxidant for ghee and vegetable oils. Oil is used as hair-fixer and added in ointment. Seed oil is used in paints and varnishes. Seed cake is used as manure.

 The bark is used for treatment of typhoid and meningitis .

 The leaves are used externally for different types of skin infections and infect- Taxonomic Position ed wounds.

Interesting Ecological Fact Division Magnoliophyta

The spreading of Mallotus and concurrent declining of sal might be the result of Class Magnoliopsida shifting ecological successions, triggered by more flooding and a more erratic rain- Order Euphorbiales fall pattern combined with less frequent forest fires, all of which are assumed to fa- vour Mallotus and hamper regeneration of Shorea robusta. Family Euphorbiaceae

Genus Mallotus Distribution Mallotus philippensis has a widespread natural distribution, from the western philippensis Himalayas, through India, Sri Lanka, to southern China and throughout Malaysia to IUCN Status : Least concern Australia.

Central Academy for State Forest Service Guided by : Photography and Compiled By : P.O. New Forest, Dehradun - 248 006, Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS , President Officers’ Club Amit Singh, SFS 2019-21, P1 Uttarakhand Shri Pradeep Wahule, IFS, Vice President Officers’ Club P R A K R I T I, 29th March 2 0 2 1, V O L. III, I S S U E 08 FAUNA OF THE WEEK

Pangshura tecta

Indian roofed turtle

The Indian Roofed turtle (Pangshura tectahas) gets its name because of the

peculiar shape of its shell (carapace). The Indian Roofed turtle is a part of the

Asian river turtle family, . It is most commonly found in

Southeast Asia (India, Bangladesh). It is locally known as the Kori Kaitta.

Indian Roofed often have green shells, red or orange plastrons

(underbelly that connects to shell), and black and yellow-striped heads.

Larger Indian Roofed turtles measure up to 25 cm! Males are smaller than

females. Interestingly, males have a white band on their tails - as well, their

tails are longer and thicker - and females have a yellow band on the tip of their Conservation overview IUCN Status: Least concern tails.

C Breeding : Male P. tecta develop a small tubercle at the end of the thick tail during Kingdom: Animalia

October, just before the breeding season, and shed it in March. This tubercle may help Phylum: Chordata in probing the female’s cloacal vent during courtship. During courtship the male swims Class: Reptilia along the females side and may also circle her. A nest cavity 14–20 cm deep is usually

dug. Clutches contain 3-14 elongated (35-45 x 21–29 mm) eggs. There are reports of Order: Testudines

clutches with a maximum of 15 ovoid (50-51 x 20–21 mm), white eggs, that tend to Family: Geoemydidae become bluish at hatching time. The natural incubation period lasts 70–144 days. : Pangshura Hatchlings have 34.1-35.2 mm carapaces and weigh 7 g; this species is omnivorous,

feeding on aquatic plants, like water hyacinths and weeds, and prey such as Species: tecta

crabs and snails; it also scavenges.

Distribution:

Pangshura tecta inhabits the , Brahmaputra, Indus, and Mahanadi river drainages in Pakistan, northern and

peninsular India, and Bangladesh.

Habitat:

This is a quiet-water turtle, occurring in quiet streams, canals, oxbows, ponds,

and man-made water tanks. It also occurs in brackish coastal waters. A soft

bottom and abundant aquatic vegetation are preferred conditions. It loves

basking in the early morning sun. Basking helps the turtle to maintain its body

temperature as well as for the synthesis of Vitamin D.

Guided by: Central Academy for State Forest Service Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS, President,Guided Officers’ by: Club PhotographyPhotography & Compiled & Compiledby: by: P.O. New Forest, Dehradun- 248006, Uttarakhand Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS, President, Officers’ Club Gyan Singh | SFS2019 – 21| P2 Ph: 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168; E-mail: [email protected] ShriShri Pradeep Pradeep Wahule, Wahule, IFS, Vice IFS, President, Vice Officers’ President Club , Officers’ Club Archana Rawat | SFS2019 – 21| P2 V V V a P R A K R I T I, 29th March 2 0 2 1, V O L. III, I S S U E 08 BIRD OF THE WEEK Motacilla maderaspatensis White –browed wagtail

These birds are having 21 cm body length, black long shinny cylindrical

beak black round eyes, thin long legs, and good for perch, long constantly

wagging tail, black upper part and white lower part. Juvenile are gray

brown and adults are black. During the breeding season the singing done to

attract the female.

These birds have black white pattern with white color brow. Natives of

South Asia, found all over Indian subcontinent. Its specific name derives

from the Indian city name Madras. There birds are considered as good

omen. The local name of the bird is dobbin.

Food and forging: Kingdom Animalia

Insectivorous in nature, during nestlings time patents fed their off Phylum Chordata springs soft bodied caterpillars, spiders, annelids including small

earthworms. Adult feed on small insects. Class Aves

Habitat: Order Passeriformes

Usually seen in pair near the water body especially in morning. Sound like

“weech”. They also adopted in urban habitat often found on building roof Family Motacillida

and on electric wires. They can fly speed of 40km/h. Genus Motacilla

Endoparasitic filarial parasite reported. The habitat loss is the main threat.

Caging of these birds due to beautiful eyes and melodious singing. Species maderaspatensis

Breeding:

Monogamist birds. Breeding season is March to October. Male performed dis- play. Cup shaped nest placed on

ground or rock hole, roof tops. It’s made of grass, roots and algae. 3-5 eggs led by female in season. Both parents use

feed the nestlings.

Central Academy for State Forest Service Guided by: Photography & Compiled by: Shri Kunal Satyarthi, IFS, President, Officers’ Club P.O. New Forest, Dehradun- 248006, Uttarakhand Arshi Malik | SFS2019 – 21| P3 Ph: 0135-2754575/ Fax: 0135-2756168; E-mail: [email protected] Shri Pradeep Wahule, IFS, Vice President, Officers’ Club V V V a a a n n n