PILKHAN, or white fig, is a native inhabitant of Delhi, flourishing effortlessly in the city's dry and arid climate. The gigantic tree with massive canopies can be spotted across the city parks and along the roads. Although most people cross philkhan trees every day, they are oblivious to the food that this tree can provide.
Pilkhan (Ficus virens) is a deciduous tree that sheds all its leaves around February and sprouts new ones around April. The tree is known as pakhad in Hindi, bassari in Marathi, kurugatti in Tamil, cherala in Malayalam and pepri in Gujarati. The unopened leaf buds and young leaves of the tree are slightly sour and can be consumed as a healthy stir-fried sabji (see recipe) or turned into a pickle. Though many tribal communities in the country eat pilkhan, not much has been documented about it.
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Denne historien er fra April 16, 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
