Monthly Archives: October 2018
31 b
31 a
30
29
28
Ponkuzhi forests throw a surprise
Discovery of Liparis tschangii published in Indian Forester
Liparis tschangii, a plant that belongs to the Orchidaceae family, has been discovered in the Ponkuzhi forests in Wayanad district, a major biodiversity hotspot on the Nilgiri biosphere reserve.
The tuberous species was discovered by a team of researchers led by V. Balakrishnan, former Director of Community Agrobiodiversity Centre of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) at Puthoorvayal here during an expedition recently. The discovery has been published in the recent edition of the science journal Indian Forester.
Liparis tschangii is mainly found in China and Vietnam, but this was the first time that the distributional record of the plant was reported from India, Dr. Balakrishnan told The Hindu.
“The leaves of the plant resemble the structure of the human heart and have white rhizome and green flower bunches,” Salim Pichan, botanist, MSSRF, and a member of the team said.
Very rare
“The plant is very rare in this locality and may need conservation priority,” Mr. Pichan added.
Jose Mathew, assistant professor, Department of Botany, S D College, Alappuzha; P. Dhanesh Kumar, former Divisional Forest Officer, South Wayanad forest division; Jayesh P. Joseph and M. Jithin, scientists of MSSRF, are the other members of the team.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by E.M. Manoj / Kalpeta – October 26th, 2018
26
25
Flood hero Jaisal gets a rescue boat
The fibre speed boat is presented by Carnival Group
K.P. Jaisal, a fisherman from Tanur who turned himself into a footstep for a few women to board a rescue boat during the floods of August, has been given a fibre speed boat by multinational Carnival Group.
Minister for Higher Education K.T. Jaleel handed over the boat to Mr. Jaisal at a function held at Tanur on Monday.
The Minister said the rescue boat would remain a symbol of the people’s response to the humanitarian act of Mr. Jaisal.
Mr. Jaisal had won international attention when he bent himself in knee-deep water to help some women board an inflated dinghy during a rescue operation.
source – below: www.youtube.com / ManoramaOnline
Visuals go viral
The visuals showing the women boarding the boat by stepping on Mr. Jaisal’s back had gone viral, turning him an instant hero of the floods rescue.
The rescue boat will be available for service under the trauma care unit of Tanur, of which Mr. Jaisal is an active member.
Mr. Jaleel praised the humanitarian deeds of Mr. Jaisal and the trauma care unit.
The Minister said the floods had taught us a lesson that we would overcome any difficulty by upholding the spirit of humanity.
Tanur municipal chairperson C.K. Subaida presided. She too offered to support the rescue efforts being conducted by the trauma care unit of Tanur. Carnival Group representative R. Gopikrishnan delivered the keynote address. Group director K.S. Sasikumar gave away kits of stationery and study materials to poor students.
Trauma care unit members, personnel of the police, Fire and Rescue Services, Kerala State Electricity Board and Revenue Department were felicitated on the occasion.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Malappuram – October 23rd, 2018