Punarnava, which once adorned the sidewalks of Delhi, is now rare to spot in the city's concretised landscape. So I was elated at the sight of the creeper on the campus of Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Delhi. Despite this year's harsh summer, it was growing profusely around a tube well that remained shaded by trees. It is said that the plant can regrow even from a sprig. Probably this is the reason, it has been named punarnava, which in Sanskrit means renewal and rejuvenation.
A review paper in Canadian Journal of Botany published in 1979, has references that suggest that the plant derives its name from the Sanskrit phrase "Punah punarnava bhawati iti”, which captures its perennial habit. It remains dry and dormant during summer and regenerates from the old root stock in the rainy season.
The name could also have arisen from the phrase, "Karoti shariram punarnavam", which can be loosely translated as “the one that rejuvenates the body” and indicates its therapeutic value.
Denne historien er fra November 01, 2024-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra November 01, 2024-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
