SADABAHAR FLOWER

Sadabahar 's batanical name is Vinca Rosea. It bears flowers in all the seasons. Sadabahar' means 'always in bloom'  Sadabahar is a small shrub. It rejoices in sun or rain, or the seaside, in good or indifferent soil and often grows wild. Numerous soft-wood branches from the ground, give it an appearance of fullness. It has impressive effect with its various colours. The flower comes in various colours and combinations. The star-like 5 petaled flowers are white, pink or red. They can also be in two colours with a different coloured centre. The leaves are silky glossy dark green.

The plant is multiplied easily by seeds or cuttings. In fact near the mother plant often a great number of self-seeded young plants appear, which are very fast growing and sturdy. In the tropicals it is good to do a heavy pruning three four times a year.

Sadabahar (Vinca Rosea) has a vast field of applications. It contains an alkaloid which is a heart poison. Leaves are applied to wasp-sting. Sadabahar have been used for cramps, luplesia, diarrhoea, sore throat, inflamed tonsils. It is also called Sorcerer's Violet because witches and sorcerers used it for making potions. It is said it can help in fighting cancer.Now a days, the leaves and roots of the Sadabahar are used in the pharmaceutical industry and in ayurvedic medicines to treat different diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

JIWANI PORT (BALUCHISTAN-PAKISTAN)

Jiwani is a town and commercial port that is located along the Gulf of Oman in the Gwadar District of the Balochistan province in Pakistan. It is located near the Pakistani border with Iran.Jiwani lies to the extreme west on the Makran coast, close to the Pakistan - Iran border. Jiwani is rich in biodiversity.Being free from pollution, Jiwani is reminiscent of a South Sea island, with vast sandy beaches giving onto the clean, clear green waters of the Arabian Sea.

The area around the bay includes an important mangrove forest extending across the international border.It is an important habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, especially the endangered Olive Ridley and Green Turtles.

Green Turtles at  JIWANI  COAST

Olive Ridley Turtle

There are a number of export oriented fish freezing plants located in Jiwani. Jiwani is 34 km from the Iranian border.town hosts a small naval base and an airport with a 5,500-foot runway.

The special thing about Jiwani is that it was used during the World War II as an allied base and the remains of some bases are still available. Visiting the barracks area of the base used during the World War 2 in Jiwani reveals many handwritten small stories and names of allied Pilots.

There is another story linked to Jiwani and that is that Queen Victoria planned to visit the area to watch the "sunset" and a hut was built for her, which is now known as the "Victoria Hut".  The Victoria Hut is still maintained by the Pakistan Coast Guards up to the present day.

Victoria Hut

Sunset at Jiwani

There is a water system which is now abandoned for use but is a marvel of civil works and holds great uniqueness for meeting water requirements of the base. It used to store rain water in three stages in order to clean the water using its usual flow. The water was then pumped to the base and also up to the Victoria Hut which is nearly 5 km from the water tank system.

Recently, WWF-Pakistan established the Jiwani Conservation and Information Centre (JCIC). The aim is to contribute towards the conservation of biodiversity in the area, through information dissemination.Located at a site overlooking the Arabian Sea, the JCIC contains facilities for seminars, meetings etc. It has exhibits/displays related to the surrounding biodoversity.

Jiwani Conservation and Information Centre

Mangrove Nursery at Jiwani

Mangrove Forest at JIWANI

Jiwani Airport is situated 10 km away from the city centre of Jiwani in Balochistan. It is not a major airport of Pakistan. At this time, there is no scheduled service to or from the airport.

MUD VALCANOES IN BALUCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

The Baluchistan province of Pakistan is gifted with a diverse geography. Among many geological wonders, one big attraction is the presence of mud volcanoes. In Baluchistan there are more than 80 active mud volcanoes. World’s largest and highest known mud volcano is located in Baluchistan. The altitude of highest mud volcano here is 300 ft. dormant mud volcanoes stand like columns of mud in many other areas. There are about 10 locations having clusters of mud volcanoes. . The mud volcanoes of Baluchistan are not only located on the land but from time to time they appear as small temporary islands in the Arabian Sea. Similar mud volcanoes have been identified on Mars planet.

 

Mud volcanoes are also located in the Makran range of mountains. In the west, in Gwadar District, the mud volcanoes are very small and mostly be situated in the south of Jabal-e-Mehdi toward Sur Bandar. Many more exist in the north-east of Ormara. The other are in Lasbela District and are scattered between south of Gorangatti on Koh Hinglaj to Koh Kuk in the North of Miani Hor in the Hangol Valley. In this region, the heights of mud volcanoes range between 800 to 1,550 feet (243.8 to 472.4 m). Most mud volcanoes in this region are situated in out-of-reach areas having very difficult terrain.

 

HINGOL MUD VALCANO

Hingol mud volcano is located in Makran District, Baluchistan Province of Pakistan. It is a mud volcano located in Hingol National Park. The mud is rather cool.

NEZ-E-SULTAN

Neza e Sultan) is located in Chagai District, Baluchistan, Pakistan. Neza e Sultan is an extinct volcano and only the magma chamber remains and it looks like a spear. Neza means spear; Sultan means King; literally Spear of Sultan.

CHANDRAGUP

Chandragup is a mud volcano located in Baluchistan, Pakistan. The mud volcano ‘Chandrakup’ means 'Moon Well'. The volcano is filled with mud, instead of magma, hence the term "mud volcano". The height of chandragup mud volcano is approximately 300 meters. The most famous is Chandaragup. The biggest crater found at 25°33'13.63"N. 65°44'09.66"E is about 450 feet (137.16 m) in diameter. Chandrakup volcano is considered holy by Hindus and is an important stop for pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Devi (goddess) Hinglaj.

JEBEL-E-GHURAB

 Jebel-e-Ghurab is located in Baluchistan, Pakistan. It is a mud volcano.

 

MALAN ISLAND

Malan Island is actually an offshore mud volcano located in the Arabian Sea, 3 kilometers off the coast of Baluchistan, Pakistan.

The term mud volcano or mud dome is used to refer to formations created by geo-excreted liquids and gases, although there are several different processes which may cause such activity. Hot water mixes with mud and surface deposits Temperatures are much cooler in these processes than found at igneous volcanoes. About 86% of the gas released from these structures is methane, with much less carbon dioxide and nitrogen emitted. Ejected materials are often slurry of fine solids suspended in liquids which may include water, which is frequently acidic or salty, and hydrocarbon fluids.

Jasmine (common) The National flower of Pakistan

Jasmine (common) is the National flower of Islamic Republic of Pakistan .In Urdu language it is called Chambeili.  The floral wreath surrounding the “State Emblem of Pakistan” represents the floral wreath of jasmine shrubs.

Jasmine’s Binomial name is Jasminum officinale. Jasminum officinale (Common Jasmine, Poet's Jasmine, Jessamine) is a species of jasmine, in the family Oleaceae, famous for its scent.

 Scientific classification:

|     Kingdom: Plantae

|     (unranked): Angiosperms

|     (unranked): Eudicots

|     (unranked): Asterids

|     Order: Lamiales

|     Family: Oleaceae

|     Genus: Jasminum

|     Species: J. officinale

Jasmine has over 200 species. Jasmine is a flowering shrub in the olive family. Jasmine is indigenous to warm climates throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Some types of jasmine are evergreen, while others are deciduous (their leaves fall off in autumn), and they flower in late spring or early summer.

Jasmine plants are usually up to 3 meters high and 2 meters wide. Jasmine is a climbing vine with oval and shiny, rich green leaves. The leaves have five to nine leaflets, each up to 2½ inches long.   Jasmine flowers grow in clusters and have five or six 1-inch white or yellow petals. It has small white star-shaped flowers.

The plant flowers from April to September. Plant jasmine seeds at least eight feet apart in the late summer through late autumn. The plants will need at least four hours of direct sunlight daily, a lot of water, and sandy loam soil Jasmine is spread by cuttings of nearly ripe wood in summer. The soil should be kept moist but well drained for optimum growth. Frequent prune is required to grow it as a shrub of desired size. Pruning also helps keep an abundance of flowers, since flowers are produced on new wood. It grows in full sun to partial shade.

uses

v     Jasmine is also used as an essential oil in aromatherapy. It is specifically used in dermatology as either an antiseptic or anti-inflammatory agent

v     Jasmine absolute is known as the 'King of Oils', and its heavy, sweet scent is loved by most people.

v     It is also used as an aphrodisiac, for brain stimulant, calming, restoring balance and confidence, anti-depressive, and soothes headaches

v     The aroma of Jasmine is described as calming and soothing without being soporific, and is indicated for depression and stress - as well as some respiratory conditions. It is indicated for sensitive skin conditions too.

v     The fragrant jasmine odor can be extracted and is one of the most widely used scents in the making of perfume.

v     Jasmine is used for tea.

Jasmine flowers are popular in gardens, as houseplants, and for use in cut flower arrangements The Jasmine flower releases its fragrance at night after the sun has set and especially when the moon is waxing towards fullness, thus it is associated with soothing peaceful night-time moods Jasmine flowers are traditional hair adornments across southern Asia. Many women wear garlands of Jasmine flowers in their hair

Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar) National Tree of Pakistan

Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar) is the national tree of Pakistan. The deodar cedar forests are in the extreme northern mountains of Pakistan at an altitude of 1500-2000. Pakistan has a large forest of Cedrus deodara in Kalam (Swat valley). Other place where it is found a lot of is Chitral Gol National.  In Abbotabad Pakistan has some very rare and old trees, some even as old as 200-300 years old.

APPEARANCE

It is a large evergreen coniferous tree reaching 40–50 m tall, exceptionally 60 m, with a trunk up to 3 m diameter. It has a conic crown with level branches and drooping branches at the end. . Branches horizontally arranged, and end of the shoots pendulous. One-year shoots densely pubescent. Needles blue-green, about 30 in a cluster, 3-5 cm long, acuminate.

LEAVES

The leaves are needle-like, mostly 2.5–5 cm long, occasionally up to 7 cm long, slender (1 mm thick), borne singly on long shoots, and in dense clusters of 20-30 on short shoots; they vary from bright green to glaucous blue-green in color.

 FLOWERS

Flowers appear in September and October. Cones solitary or in pairs. Ovate or barrel-shaped. 7-10 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, rounded at the apex, bluish when young, reddish-brown when ripe; maturing from September to November; the seed is shed from September to December; seed scales 5-6 cm wide, usually glabrous on the upper side. Seed about 17 mm long, about 6 mm wide; wing large, light brown The female cones are barrel-shaped, 7–13 cm long and 5–9 cm broad, and disintegrate when mature (in 12 months) to release the winged seeds. The male cones are 4–6 cm long, and shed their pollen in autumn.

GROWING

The climate in Pakistan allows for a Cedrus deodara to flourish in its region. Cedrus deodara trees are grown in mild winters and are destroyed in temperature below 25 C. The best trees are found on deep, well-drained soils. High atmospheric moisture is favorable. It is tolerant to shade, but juvenile trees are prone to harm from frosts and cold wind.

USES

Cedrus deodara is used for various purposes.

|    Building material: Deodar is in great demand as building material because of its durability, rot-resistant character and fine, close grain, which is capable of taking a high polish. Its rot-resistant character also makes it an ideal for constructing, deodar wood was used extensively for construction of barracks, public buildings, bridges, canals and railway cars Despite its durability it is not a strong timber, and its brittle nature makes it unsuitable for delicate work where strength is required, such as chair-making.

|    Medicine: Cedrus deodara has curative properties and therefore used in medicines. It also has antifungal properties and has some potential for control of fungal deterioration of spices during storage and cure skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis

|    Remove toxins: Deodar’s increase digestive function, remove toxins from the bowel, alleviate coughing,

|    Astringent: The outer bark and stem are astringent its biomedical actions are reported to be carminative, antispasmodic, creates sweating, urination and is aromatic

|    Essential oil:  The inner wood is aromatic and used to make incense. Inner wood is distilled into essential oil. As insects avoid this tree, the essential oil is used as insect repellent on the feet of horses, cattle and camels.

|    Aromatherapy: Cedar oil is often used for its aromatic properties, especially in aromatherapy. It has a characteristic woody odor which may change somewhat in the course of drying out. The crude oils are often yellowish or darker in color. Its applications cover soap perfumes, household sprays, floor polishes and insecticides and are also used in microscope work as clearing oil

RANGE

It is widely grown as an ornamental tree, much planted in parks and large gardens for its drooping foliage Cedrus deodara is also found in other places of the world .Cedrus deodara is a species of cedar native to the western Himalayas in northern Pakistan, eastern Afghanistan, , north-central India,Tibet and western Nepal. It is widely planted as an ornamental in Europe and the western U.S.