Mungari Molaka, wild bulb, a weather indicator ?

Blossomed 21 flowers: Is that an indication of more rains?

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

State is likely to get more rains if the botanical phenomenon has to be believed. Wild grown Mungari Molaka, a bulb resembling Onion, which indicates a copious rainfall depending on the number of flowers it has, this season blossomed with 21 flowers- a rare occurrence. What the weatherman have already indicated is borne out by these floral occurrence says experts.

Mr V B Ramanamurthy of AP Forest Department says ,"the flowering of Mungari Molaka is a bio indicator and the climatic conditions. Usually the flowers are only around six or rarely ten. This year it blossomed 21 flowers. This is a good indicator for the good rains in this season. Meteorological department already said that they are expecting goodrains in the State,"Experts discussed on the Mungari Moloka as indicator of weather pattern recentconference held in Aranya Bhavan how flowering indicates the local climatic conditions. Botanists from Andhra and Hyderabad Central University conducted a detailed study onthe plant. Mungari Molaka blooms from Ugadi to the onset of Monsoon days. Scientifically known as Urginea Indica blossom during pre monsoon showers. Botanistsalso observed that it would lead to heavy rains and floods.Mungari Molaka is a weed reported from Maddikera near Pathikonda in Kurnool district. This plant is not visible during another season. The plant has branched adventitious roots, the stem is an underground flesh bulb and similar to Onion. Experts opined that changes in climate at regional level are more variable and difficult to predict and can be assessed by establishing relationship between phenological events of plants, animals and seasonal weather parameters. Apart from flowering, fruit ripening,appearance of leaves, leaf fall, appearance of fungi and nest building and appearance offrogspwan are the other phenological characters.A senior forest official said ,"there is a need to established phenological workstation formonitoring weather has to be established in the State. Phenology is the study of timingof lifecyle of plants and animals,"Meanwhile, Dr Koppula Hemadri eminent tribal medicine specialist said ,"apart from Urginea Indica two new species of Urginea are found recently.,"He named them Urginea nagarjunae in the name of Acharya Nagarjuna and Urginearaogibikei in the name of the owner of Pragati Resorts,"