Flame of the Forest during the off season

 

This is a picture of  "Modugu Chettu"(Butea), a small one considerably. Taken it while being on the wayside of nearby Turubaka village. With the on set of spring season, these trees burst with magnificent bright orange red flowers and that's why, keeping in view of it's dominant colorful presence, called as flame of the forest. This tree is commonly seen across many places of our area. Modugu chettu is the common Telugu name. Before the plastic plates introduced, these leaves were used as portable green plates to take any kind of small quantity of food whatever. Locals were using it for multiple purposes.

Nowadays, only the cattle are eating the leaves. Must be sumptuous for them since the leaves are soft, smooth and leathery. However, rainy season brought tender green shine to the leaves. We can't see any bright green leaves during the spring season. There were only orange red flowers all over. The tree resembles as if it's of only with red flowers sans the leaves. A dramatic change or transformation. Modugu leaves have had  age old references in Sukla Yajurveda to have used in the times of rituals, especially to pour ghee in fire related rituals.

These trees generally now used for timber, resin and medicinal value. We can also see the trees in the parts of tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian sub-continent and southeast Asia. Grow almost 49 ft tall. Leaves are pinnate, with 8-13 cm. Mostly cleared off for agricultural purpose. Very few are nowadays to be seen. Once, the trees were aplenty on both sides of road. The scenario has been changed with times, at least there were some of them to witness. 

Tippa Teega : A Medicinal Plant

 I am hereafter keep writing about the plants and trees we have in our area. We simply do neglect many green entities which are outside our compound. In reality, every plant has its own importance. Be it in Ayurveda or in herbal medicine , these are key players. And of course many other plants are there we know nothing about.  And all these are gifted by Almighty for us for  many purposes including environmental balance. 

                                                                    (TIPPA TEEGA)

Here, above I have given a picture that was taken in front of our residence. It's name in general is Tippa Teega in Telugu. A climbing sort plant. It takes walls, trees and any thing to creep ahead. Commonly Seen in almost everyplace. Not only in forests and thickets, It is seen around public habitations also. How it was existed here..? First, questioned myself. Around our place, there are several neem trees, bamboos and other trees. One must hear the chirping sounds of birds from the heights of all these branches. Perhaps, they could have brought the seeds of this Tippa Teega, from nearby forests. No body intentionally planted these climbing plant. I know it for sure.

Any Medicinal Uses: Tippa Teega is very much known for its traditional medicinal value. These leaves have been used in Ayurveda for centuries. Juice of the leaves prevents swine flu and improves the resistance power of the body. And it cures many other health problems.

Family: Menispermaceae,  Genus: Tinospora