Western Ghats News

Wild banana found in Anamalais
PTI[SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2002 09:45:03 PM]
COIMBATORE: Kalvazhai, a species of wild banana (ensete superba) was found recently in the inaccessible rocky slopes and beyond the reach of elephants, in Anamalais, coming under Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Pollachi.

The seeds of Kalvazhai were believed to be of medicinal importance, which needed further detailed study and research, according to wildlife warden V Ganesan.

In India, Kalvazhai was found occuring in the wild state all along the western ghats at an altitude of 1000-1500 metre above mean sea level, in exposed rocky places, especially in sheet rock formation, Ganesan said.

Though the life cycle of Kalvazhai was not fully understood, probably it took four to five years to complete its life cycle with the vegetative phase up to three to four years and the reproductive phase from flowering to fruit ripening taking about one year, Ganesan said.

A recent study conducted by the forest department revealed that Kalvazhai, which is full of hard stony seeds without pulp, was propagated through seeds, he said.

The plants die after fruiting and in nature, the fruits were eaten by wild animals like the brown palm civet, helping in seed dispersal and good germination of seeds, he said.

In view of the medicinal importance, Kalvazhai is regenerated from seeds in the demo garden of the Kariyan Shola medicinal plant conservation area, Ganesan added.