Mushroom Diversity – I am starting to like it!

I thought that the fungal taxonomy is simple, but it is not! I also thought that plant is more diverse than the fungus, but it is not! I came to know it only when Dr. Hosaka, mycologist (Basidiomycota) from Japan presented a seminar on Mushroom. 

Mushrooms are edible, non-edible, poisonous and non-poisonous. Many farmers earn their livelihood through the trade of mushroom and of course many people die due to mushroom poisoning. They play vital roles in the ecosystem as mycorrhiza and decomposers (of wood and leaves). Mushrooms are known to be the most diverse groups of organism in the terrestrial ecosystem, yet the true numbers of the mushroom species are unknown. 

The scientists have estimated the number of mushroom species of both known and unknown to be ca. 1,500,000 species. It is also estimated through different approaches that the number of species to be around 5 – 9 million or even more.

Ganoderma applanatum. Phuntsholing, January, 2013 Alt. c. 400m

Microporus sp. Phuntsholing. January, 2013. Alt. c. 1000m

Dr. Hosaka mentioned that the ratio of plant to fungi in the world is 1:5 i.e. for every plant there is 5 mushrooms. It is quite alarming that most of the fungus are not discovered or not described, whereas most of the plants have been discovered and described too. The fact about mushroom is that, even a single species can be identified into at least 7 species.

Mushrooms are source of income for some farmers and food for some. The mushrooms has so far increased the status of local livelihood and also taken some of the lives. It is vital to identify the edible, non-edible and poisonous mushrooms. 

Mushrooms are so diverse; that to explore, discover and describe the entire mushroom on earth will take more than 1000 years from now.

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Pranic Healing – A Perception

I couldn’t believe that Pranic Healing really heals! It was something that seems like a mystery to me. I thought of giving it a try by healing myself by my sister (Who is an advanced Pranic Healer) and I gave a try when I had fever.  It was indeed miraculous! The fever has disappeared and instantly, I had a feeling like fever was never there in me. That was the moment I planned to attend two days course on Basic Pranic Healing at YDF, Thimphu. 

I attended the course and it was the most beautiful experience I ever had in my life. I can feel the energy and of course I can see the energy in the air, on the ground, in the tree, around human body, etc. Everywhere there is energy, I didn’t realize that before. It was like I was venturing into a brave new world, where there is peace, happiness, harmony and the divine healing.

Basically, Pranic Healing is based on Law of Nature. Pranic energy is present everywhere, just like electricity was already present on earth before it was discovered. It was Master Choa Kok Sui who founded the art of Modern Pranic Healing. Pranic healing uses those natural energies to heal the people irrespective of any kind of diseases or illness. Pranic Healing is not a religion, but a science that deals with life force or energy to heal people.

Pranic Healers heal the patient with the energies available around them by cleansing the dirty or infected energy around the patients, by energizing with new fresh energy and then stabilizing the energy. When healing, Healers are supposed to be in the state of peace and harmony, so that healers can transfer clean energy to their patients. To make ones mind in the state of peace and harmony, there is a 30 minutes meditation called Meditation on Twin Hearts, which is exceptionally perfect for any normal human being.

You know what, Pranic Healing can heal the patient wherever they are on the earth, be it in USA, Japan, China or Antarctica. I say, this is an art of mankind to heal a patient irrespective of their station. It amazing!

I suppose that there will be a time, when the scientists recommend the art of Pranic Healing to the world. Pranic Healing is not paranormal or mystery but it is a fact!

Be it karmic connection or not, I feel blessed for I have ventured into the world of Pranic Healing and I feel awesome!

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Happy New Year 2013

The Devil's Claw

The Devil’s Claw

A new addition to Bhutan’s floral family 

A National Biodiversity Centre team spotted the plant that is not endemic but invasive 

In Sonagasa, Punakha, locals hang the fruit from the door, in the form of beads, to ward off bad omens and evil spirits.

The plant that bares this hooked fruit, commonly referred to as the Devil’s Claw or Cat’s Claw, is to be documented as another addition to the country’s flora diversity. 

Scientifically the plant known as Martynia annua (Syn. M. diandra), belongs to the family Martyniaceae, and blooms a white creamy flower. 

A team from National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) at Gewachu, Wangduephodrang, spotted the plant on September 15 at an altitude of 761m above sea level, at latitude N27º12’31” and longitude E90º03’50’’. It was growing below the road near the national work force area, which is used as a dumping site. 

Martynia annua (Devil's Claw)

The fruits, measuring 3cm to 3.5cm, were collected on November 13 last year from Sonagasa in Punakha from a dead and dried plant at an altitude of 1,272m at latitude N27º29’14.6” and longitude E89º54’58.4”.

The plant and the family it comes from is a new record for Bhutan. It is not recorded in The Flora of Bhutan, a project started in 1975, which has so far recorded, in nine volumes, more than 5,600 plant species found in Bhutan. The Orchids of Bhutan was its latest publication that came out in 2003. 

The plant might have been introduced in the country from neighbouring India, when transporting machinery, or through vehicles travelling from India, as the plant was introduced and naturalised in India, according to National Herbarium, NBC. The plant might have also been introduced in the country from the grazing pattern of livestock in the border region in the south. 

The seeds are present inside the claw, and the claw hooks itself to the animals, vehicles and humans to disperse the seeds. 

The plant originated from Central America and was introduced and naturalised in many countries, such as Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Pacific region. The regeneration of native species in these areas is prevented by this plant (Smith, 2002).

Hence, the Claw is considered an invasive species in many countries, such as Australia and Indonesia. In the south Asian region, the species is found in India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar. 

There appears a high possibility of this plant invading the native species growing in Bhutan, as it did in some other countries, but no study has been carried out in Bhutan and only few such plants have been spotted. 

Internet sources describe the fruit as a medicine, which cures scorpion bites, and the leaves as treatment for epilepsy and indigestion. 

The plant specimens and fruits have been deposited at the National Herbarium, NBC.

 This article was contributed to Kuensel Newspaper in Bhutan. 

 

 

Edited and published by: Kuensel

25th December, 2012

For the original work, please click the link below:

http://www.kuenselonline.com/a-new-addition-to-bhutans-floral-family/#.UN0kk6x5oqo

Happy Reading!

It's All About the Plants

Cotoneaster sp. Location: Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve. Sep. 2011

Cotoneaster sherriffii. Location: Merak & Sakteng. May, 2011

Corydalis leptocarpa. Location: Merak & Sakteng. May, 2011

Didymocarpus albicalyx. Location: Merak & Sakteng. May, 2011

Impatience sp. Location: Merak & Sakteng. May, 2011

Osbeckia nepalensis. Location: Zhemgang. September, 2012

Rhododendron succothii. Location: Merak & Sakteng. May, 2011

Rhododendron keysii. Location: Merak & Sakteng. May, 2011

Selinum sp. Locaton: Toorsa Nature Strict Reserve. September, 2011

Mushroom

Geastrum sp. Toorsa. Sep. 2011

A unique and beautiful flower like mushroom spoted at Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve, Haa.

Taebernaemontana & Piper

Taebernaemontana divericata Piping, Chhukha. Dec. 2012

Piper pediciliatum Chasilakha, Chhukha. Dec. 2012

Where is Piping?

I wondered too! It is located at the southern Himalayan foothills of Bhutan. Well, Piping is connected with the road, electricity and mobile networks. All we need is to travel through rough road cuttings from Darla, Chhukha towards Piping with a well experienced and professional driver. No wonder, sooner or later we can travel through smooth road cuttings.

The cuttings of the road towards Piping

Colleague taking picture of Phoenix on the way to Piping after crossing the road widening processes.  I always loved to photograph Phoenix growing on the cliff.

This is the Piping town. It has around three shops and a restaurant. It is located at c.200 meters above sea level.  

Piping has different architects of building houses. It seems to be a very unique village.  The nearest neighboring human settlement is an Indian village.

Few trees of Chhukha (Bhutan)

Acer thomsonii  Location: Chasilakha, Chhukha. December, 2012

Leucosceptrum canum Location: Chasilakha, Chhukha. Dec, 2012

Pandanus farcatus Location: Darla (RDC), Chhukha. Dec, 2012

Phoenix rupicola (c.f) Location: On the way to Piping, Chhukha. Dec, 2012

Where Everyone is the Victim of Time!

Photographed at: Punakha

We are born and our own time starts with us. But Time waits for none! We are therefore in a race with time, where humans are heading towards an end. We realize the value of time only when we know how fast we have grown old, second by second, day by day and year by year. 

Photographed at: Punakha

No one is so powerful to stop the march of the time. It's beyond the man's control. All we do is, we are waiting to be old. Oldies are usually ignored directly or indirectly by the majority of the population. They were the ones, who created the better world to live and who has worked hard for us to live in the blissful world.

Now, its the younger generation to make these world a better place to live for the future generations to come.

Photographed at: Sakteng, Tashigang

The time management  is crucial for all. Time is managed very effectively by every successful person. So, if we want to follow the footsteps of these people then we must know how to manage our time very well.There is time to everything we do so, we must act quickly and responsibly in order not to let us regret the things we weren't able to do. it is good to mange time because time and tide waits for no one.

Photographed at: Gasa

Time goes on passing without caring about anybody and they occur without any notice. It is the natural phenomena that they have no consideration for any individuals. The humans are helpless before time.

Photographed at: Sakteng, Tashigang

Photographed at: Punakha

Time is running out, yesterday will never come back again. Every moment you read this lines, the time spent will never ever come back again. Time is an opportunity, it definitely means the opportunity will never come back again. So, we should never miss an opportunity, one should grasp the opportunity as it comes on one's way. 

When we get old, we get to know that we are near to the death and we wait for it.

Whether, one do it right or wrong, the time passes forever!

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