Kalpavriksha(adansonia) face threat on NH-9 extension

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Mythological Kalpavriksha known as Baobab trees are facingextinction due to the extension work of National Highway 9 from Hyderabad toVijayawada.As per botanists there are only eight such trees aged hundreds to thousands of years ofold in the State and mostly distributed in Krishna district along the highway. There is onetree in Golconda in Hyderabad and other near Hayatnagar in Ranga Reddy district.Scientist found that tree with several medicinal properties is facing serious threat to roaddevelopment works. Baobab is scientifically known as Adansonia digitata and known asKalpavriksha as the tree that provides food, water, shelter and has medicinal values.Mr A Ravi Kiran a research fellow with National Remote Sensing Centre in the city said,"We have found there are six plants in and around Krishna district. One them is locatedat Share Mohammedpet, four at Chillakallu and other one at Machilipatnam. Centre hasdecided to extend NH-9 and this is now posing a big threat to rare species of the plantdue to habitat loss,"Mr Ravi Kiran said that the tree is a native of Africa and it bears very large and heavywhite flowers. "the tree stores several litres of water and during extreme dry conditionpeople used to depend on it for water. they are pollinated by fruit bats. Their fruits arefilled with pulp and after drying it looks like dry bread. Kalpavriksha means wish fulfillingtree. It looks like upside down with branches appearing as roots,"Ecologists have asked AP Forest and Environment department to conserve these plantsfor ecological sustain ability. Botanists from Vijayawada are also working on tissueculture of the plant.One of the tree aged 700-year old situated near Golconda fort in the city has a 36 squarefeet hollow and accommodate at least 12 persons.According Environmental Information System on Medicinal plants of the centre thesetrees are medicine plants and are used in Ayurveda, Folk, Unani and Sidha medicinalsystems.Baobab tree leave have several magically medicinal properties and can be used invarious deficiencies of calcium, vitamin B-1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin), andVitamin C. Few leaves of Baobab everyday can help in supplementing the nutritionalneeds Botanists said. It has also anti allergic, anti asthmatic and anti malarial propertiesand used for gastro intestinal disorders like constipation and acidity."the roots can also be tapped for water. Water collected in trunk was source of water fortravellers earlier," said Ravi Kiran. The tree near Hayatnagar was facing extinction dueto Out Ring Road officials said. Vernacularly in Telugu it is also known asBrahmamalika.