Thursday, 13 February 2025 | PNS | NEW TEHRI
In a quirky state of things, ‘Buransh’- Uttarakhand’s State tree- which used to bloom in ‘Chait’ (March-April) is now displaying its floral beauty in ’Magh’ (February) itself. This plant is rich with medicinal value whose juice is considered good for those who suffer from erratic heart functioning.
Those who are in the know attribute this untimely flowering to global warming and scanty winter rain. As per the Botanists, the flowering takes a period of 15-20 days.
Scientifically known as Rhododendron, Buransh is a group consisting of over 1,000 species of woody plants belonging to the Ericaceous family most of which are known for bright red flowers. It is found in regions with altitude ranging from 5000 to 8,000 feet above the sea level.
The founder of the ‘Chipko’ Movement and recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, Chandi Prasad Bhatt observed that the changes in weather are affecting vegetation as a whole and the early blooming of ‘Buransh’ is one of the changes being found in nature. “The crop cycle and the wilds are being affected, too. Many plants which would grow in the hills are disappearing fast. We are all concerned. These must be researched and a solution must be found,” he noted.
