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VOL. XXIII NO. 20, February 1-15, 2014
Our Readers write

Welcome progress

The renovation of pavements on Conran Smith Road, Gopalapuram, started several weeks ago. Work on the project, which took place by fits and starts, has shown some progress, though it’s yet to reach finality.

Residents as well as passers-by are now able to walk long stretches on a firm, even surface. The height of the platform is not such that it is daunting. The so-called ramps descending right from the gates of high-rise buildings and shopping outlets are gone, with some level surface made available in the reconstruction. Some of the electric junction boxes that were athwart the pathway have been re-aligned and are alongside the compound walls, parallel to the road. Even where some side roads meet the main road, the raised pavement is there, with ramps created on either side for vehicles to negotiate these junctions.

Though the work is yet to be finished, the renovation project is promising. We trust the concretised surface of the platform won’t be dug up all too soon to repair any faulty service lines. To the credit of the authorities, some co-ordinated work with electricity and telephone departments and other service providers appears to have been done.

While the created pavement is indeed a good facility, the utterly thoughtless parking of two-wheelers and cars and other impediments created by humans are worrisome.

C.G. Rishikesh
A5 Madhurima
32, Conran Smith Road
Gopalapuram
Chennai 600 086

Quality the need

Concrete or bitumen for our roads (MM, January 16th) is not exactly the question. Who lays it, who supervises it, what proportion of bitumen or cement, stones etc. has been used to what thickness, how heavy a roller has been used, are obviously of prime importance. Roads in countries with much heavier rainfall, more heat and more traffic, such as Thailand and Malaysia, don’t deteriorate as quickly as our roads do because quality and accountability are the main criteria there.

Prem Chandran John
10, 32nd Cross Street
Besant Nagar
Chennai 600 090

Differing views on trees

I am sorry for the typographical errors of the botanical names (MM, January 16th). However, Tamarindus indica is the correct botanical name and not Tamarindus indicus, as stated by reader Raman. Prof K.N. Rao, who wrote in Madras Musings and the Wikipedia, as well as my reference book titled Dictionary of Economic Plants in India (ICAR), indicate concurrence.

Not only are the seeds of the Carol tree (Erythrina) not eaten by birds, rodents and squirrels, but its roots damaged the flats main concrete water tank, not once but twice. I wrote about this hoping that our bitter experience will help those who plan to plant trees in and around their flats, or as avenue trees. However reader Raman writes: “If E.Variegata pushed its roots into the water reservoir is it the tree’s fault? I have not mentioned anything about a water reservoir in my paper. Thirdly, the tree is notorious for its toxicity.

I have also mentioned in my article, in passing, the dangers of growing the Indian Skunk Tree. A few days back I had some visitors and the first thing they said was, “Your flats have a foul odour. Why are your flat owners growing these foul odour trees? Pauline Deborah has written, “The Skunk Tree Sterculius foetida is derived from the Latin Sterculius meaning ‘dung or manure’ and foetida refers to the foul smell emitted by the tree.

Again, your reader says, “Referring to P.longifolia as Asoka is unfortunate. In this connection, I asked a former director of CPCRI (who was its director for 13 years), “Do you know what a Mast Tree is? In Tamil it is known as nettlingam? He had no answer. But when I asked him, “Do you know what a Asoka tree is? he said, “Oh yes, it is P.longifolia. I asked a similar question to an FAO spice expert. He had no answer till I asked him, “Do you know what a Asoka tree is? to which he said it is P.longifolia.

Saraca asoca is the Asoka tree and is native to India. It is now grown all over the world. Buddha was said to be born beneath it and, therefore, it is auspicious. Another species, S. declinata, native to Java, is also grown in India. However, Wikipedia says, “Other trees are called ‘Asoka tree’.” A popular tree known as ‘false Asoka tree’, or even as ‘Asoka tree’, is Polyalthia longifolia and is cultivated to resemble the growth pattern of erect pillar-like Mediterranean cypress trees. It is a popular park and garden tree much used for landscaping in the Indian sub-continent.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America (1918) and other tomes say Erythrina, the bark of the Australian species of this genus, Erythrina broteroi, is said to contain an alkaloid, erythrinine, while the Mexican species, Erythrina coralloides DC. bears poisonous seeds in which Altamirano has found erythroidine, a powerful paralyzant of the motor system, erythroresin and an emetic, coralin and erythric acid. This extract has been suggested as a substitue for curare.

Erythrina is grown all over the world and is not exclusive to India. There are over 130 varieties. Erythrina Americana has cytosine, a psychedelically, but toxic chemical Carol trees. It is listed under ‘Food and plants that can be toxic to birds.’

K.V.S. Krishna
kvskrishna@gmail.com

Editor’s note: Perhaps readers Krishna (kvskrishna@ gmail.com) and Raman (araman@csu.edu.au) would like to continue this discussion directly.

* * *

This is a negative way of looking at trees (MM, January 16th). Any tree will put forward its roots towards a water source. Instead of giving suggestions it is not good to advise not to plant a tree.

Erythrina is a legume that enriches the soil and is nectar source for several large and medium birds.

D. Narasimhan
Associate Professor, Department of Botany
Centre for Floristic Research, Madras Christian College
Tambaram, Chennai

* * *

Many birds visit the nectar-rich Erythrina flowers. There fore, this is not ‘a non-preferred tree’ by local fauna. The root issue presented by the writer (MM, January 1st) is a matter of concern. Primarily we have to check the nearness of the tree to the structure. Tree roots do penetrate sumps in some cases. These are very thin feeder roots. The quantity of 100 kg roots penetrating inside a sump only reflects on the poor quality of material used in the construction.

Dadaps are weak trees and are easily blown away by winds. They cannot have a destructive root system unless the tree in question was severely pruned many times over the years, allowing more root proliferation. Planting depth at the initial stages has the foremost effect on future depth of roots and root-related issues. This does not mean that Erythrina trees are to be completely avoided in avenue planting. That seems biased. Regarding Sterculia foetida, the tree flowers in February-March and matures into a fruit after 11 months. Other trees have the same issue of fruits falling when ripe. The unpleasant odour is only when flowering happens once a year, and that too for a fortnight.

This is a very fast growing tree with equally-distributed branches. It is sturdy and does not fall in a storm even if it reaches great heights. It has graceful foliage, yields itself for nesting, and is maintenance-free.

There are issues with all trees for that matter. People should not treat their own experiences as a matter of policy applicable in general.

K . Harish
mathangiagrosystems@gmail.com

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Short 'N' Snappy
Readers Write
Quizzin' With Ram'nan
Dates for Your Diary

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