Medicinal Forest in Two Cents Plot

There is a small street-shop on the right side of the road leading from Vellaikadavu bridge to Puliyarakonam. We patronize that shop from time to time. An Indian gooseberry tree stands close to the shop. It is very unusual to see such a big gooseberry trees on roadsides. Just as I started observing it, I noticed many other trees close by. Warty marble tree, three-leaved caper and so on – all growing in a two-and-a-half cent plot. The general trend we notice in Kerala is the disappearance of biodiversity because people pave tiles or granite on their plots and remove even tiny sprigs of grass, thus preventing rain water from seeping underground.

What is remarkable here is that in this tiny two-and-a-half cents, the owner has planted many trees. Let us find out more about him. Later, we will have a detailed look at the trees and plants in his plot. He taught himself a little bit of Ayurveda, got training from someone in the art of making medicinal oils, and started planting herbs and trees required for the purpose. If anyone approaches him, he gives them whichever plant they demand for free. Let me introduce him to you. His name is Shivan. I first noticed the trees. Most of them are used for making medicines. This is a very tiny piece of land. Your house is surrounded by trees. When did you start planting them? The Indian gooseberry appears very old.
It is 40-45 years old.

How did you get fascinated with trees?
I joined an ashram, studied some native medicine, went to Marutwamala [the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats in Kanyakumari district], got introduced to people and slowly began to grow interested in plants. Wherever I see a plant or tree that is beneficial to people, I ask for a sapling or a cutting. If I find one in a public place, I take it and plant it close to my house. People come asking for them. If someone complains of pain in the ankles, I give them milkweed. I don’t take money from them.
The warty marble tree is not commonly seen. Where did you get it from?
From Ettamkallu. I found it on the roadside in front of a house. I asked the owners for a branch, brought it here, nursed it with care, watered it, and as a result, it has grown well. I have given cuttings of this tree to many. I’ve planted one in my ashram. The inner part of its nut resembles the coconut shell. It can be carved to make beads. That’s how my interest grew.
The place you live in is a steep incline. In fact, walking down is not an easy task here. Isn’t it difficult to grow plants in such a place? Retaining water is not possible. Isn’t that the Indian gooseberry? It must be quite old.
Yes, it is 45 years old.
Down there is the three-leaved caper. When I was in Delhi a long time back, Madhavikutty had just composed her Neermathalam pootha kalam [When the three-leaved caper bloomed]. Back then, when a Punjabi lady asked me about it, I didn’t know which tree it was or its speciality.
This is little ironweed. A commonly seen plant.
Arrowleaf sida.
Heart-leaved moonseed.
Balloon plant.
Three-leaved caper.
It is also called Mathalingam.
That big tree there is the Indian bael.
This is the medicinal plant, vetiver.
It is good for holding the soil in place. This is the warty marble tree. This was the one I noticed. It is not a commonly seen tree. Nor is the three-leaved caper.
This is cow parsnip. The leaves are boiled in water and poured on the arms and legs to cure arthritis.
Pomegranate tree.
Indian pennywort.
Red ivy.
Reinwardt’s tree plant.
Mountain knotgrass.
Little ironweed.
Nut grass.
Green chiretta.
This is locally known as pushkara mulla [Psilanthus travancorensis]. It is good to cure spider venom.
Arrowroot.
White leadwort.
Castor bean plant.
Septic weed.
Mexican mint.
Ginger.
Aloe vera.
Gale of the wind.
Basil.
Bimbli.
Carambola apple.
Forest spider lily.
Elephant root.
East Indian rosebay.
Three-flower beggar weed.
Great basil.
Milkweed.
Guava.
Coffee plum.
Papaya.
Betel leaf.
Ivy gourd vine in between.
How many cents does this plot cover?
Two cents.
What do you do for a living?  Do you do anything else?
I’m not working now. I used to be a stone mason. When I fell ill, I stopped working. I make medicinal oils and concoctions, and sell them at low prices.
How old are you?
73 years.
Do you have problems with your vision?
Yes, I have problem with my right eye. I consulted an ophthalmologist but there was no relief. So I ignore it. I see faint light with my left eye. That’s enough for me.
Can’t it be cured with surgery?
But they said I have a mild neurological issue. Surgery is not recommended. So I decided against it.
This reference to his eyesight is a pointer to his view of life. He experienced problems with vision, consulted an eye specialist, came to know that the treatment would have no effect, and decided not to pursue it any further. He is contended with what he has. He plants trees in all the available spaces around his house so that they will be of some help to people. He is willing to share what he nurtures with so much care.
What we try to do in this series is introduce rare people who are associated with trees and plants. When he was young, this gentleman went to Marutwamala and brought back many trees. Now he leads a retired life.

What we observed are the plants and trees that he has nurtured in his two-and-a-half-cent plot. It is triangular in shape, located between two roads. He has put up two houses in it. It is amazing to see the way in which he has utilized the rest of the space for growing plants. The varieties we noticed there were commonly seen in the countryside in the past. Small plants like elephant root, Reinwardt’s tree plant, aloe vera, pushkara mulla, East Indian rosebay, Malabar nut, varieties of Solanum, especially the black nightshade, water hyssop, mountain knotgrass, Indian pennywort, and trees like warty marble tree, guava, soursop, gooseberry, Chinese chaste tree, Indian bael, and many more. So it is possible to maintain biodiversity even in two or three cents of land. Most people use their land for monocrop as cash crop, discard it when it becomes uneconomical, and let the land remain unused. Even weeds don’t grow in such areas. In most rubber plantations, yardlong bean is the only plant that is seen to grow. We have thus destroyed the rest of our indigenous varieties. But there are small individuals, owners of small plots of land, who are trying their best to retrieve the treasure we have begun to lose. I should not call them small individuals. They are great people who try to preserve what they can. If there is a school, a higher secondary school or a college nearby, students interested in Botany will find in this plot, all the plants and trees that they may want to know about. And these are rare varieties. It is highly unlikely that you will find any of these in college premises. I think all of us should give full support and encouragement to people like him who are engaged in such conservation efforts.