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INDIA: Tree native to Somalia takes root in Pune

September 2, 2012 · 3459212 Comments2012-09-03+03%3A40%3A01Qalinle+Hussein

PUNE — Conocarpus lancifolius, a native tree of Somalia found along the banks of Juba and Shebelli rivers, was recently spotted growing on the roadside in Mahatma Society, Kothrud. It is the only tree of the species growing in the city.

Amateur botanist Shrikant Ingalhalikar told TOI that this evergreen tree is flowering and bearing fruits. “This unusual tree was planted 25 years ago by Dattatraya Gulavani, a tree-loving resident of the society. It was brought from Dubai where it is a common avenue tree. It is the only tree of its kind in Pune,” he said.

This full-grown tree, called ghalab in Somali and damas in Arabic, was spotted and identified by tree enthusiast Vinaya Acharya.

While the diversity of trees in Pune is claimed to be the richest in India, tree lovers of Pune are taking the initiative to identify and spot new additions, Ingalhalikar said.

“The damas in Pune is about 6 metres tall, but in its native country it can grow to 15 metres. This straight-branched tree has a dense foliage of lance shaped leaves. The flowers are fragrant and minute in round heads. The fruits appear like cones of conifer trees, hence the name Conocarpus. This tree is a kin of dhawda tree which is native to India. This riparian tree is used for protecting and restoring riverbanks in East African countries,” he said.

Due to its evergreen, shining foliage and fast growth it is popular as an avenue tree.

The tree is used as a bio-remedy for removing oil from contaminated soils.

Conocarpus is also significant as it absorbs and accumulates heavy metals in its roots, Ingalhalikar added.

India Times

September 2, 2012

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: conservation, damas, Dubai, ghalab, India, Plants, rivers, Somalia, tree, vegetation

mohamed cheers says:

Beautiful tree. Amongst many other things, Somalians generally love and enjoy Indian
films and Songs. India's not new to all East African countries including Somalia and
Somaliland. Surprisingly many Somali tribes are informally known to be of Indian
Hereditary!. The Somalis are generally a good hybrids of all kinds of the globalwide World.
A good rainbow colors mixture. Generational cultures made the Somalis wonderful hybrids.
Cheers.

Cheers.

10:19 pm on September 2, 2012

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- MarcusAure1ius says:
  
  Interesting, so which clans are said to be of Indian origin?
  
  5:41 am on September 3, 2012
  
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  - mohamed cheers says:
    
    They are all integrated faded hybrids with almost many southern Somalia and Northern
    Somaliland alike but as far as am personally concerned it would suffice not to reveal them,
    because they have become Somalians no more Indians.
    Cheers.
    .
    
    6:46 am on September 3, 2012
    
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    - MarcusAure1ius says:
      
      LOL…. wise choice
      
      10:00 am on September 3, 2012
      
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Kayse says:

It's a beautiful tree and one I wasn't aware it existed in Somalia. I love trees and nature and is one of the reasons I often claim to be from Hawd :) even though I have spent more time in Diredawa than Hawd.

I was personally thinking of importing trees to Hargeisa to help green this city that is covered in dust and trash.

I recommend anyone from not only Hargeisa but throughout Somalia to start planting trees in the country.

In Hargeisa and Hawd its covered by a foreign tree now known as "Garanwa" or the unknown because no one knows where it came from. It has sharp thorns and aggressive behavour. Most animals do not eat and people do not use them as sheds nor does it have any flowers.

I was thinking of bringing plants that are desert and drought tolerant from Indonesia, Brunei, etc.

In Somalia all the threes have been either burnt for charcoal or chopped down for domestic and foreign markets.

Trees good way to promote healthy way of living and definitely way to lift people's moral.

We won't know what we have until they disappear…I am more passion about trees and plants than politics and one of these days, you will all be invited to Kayse's botanic garden in Ubaale :)

11:09 pm on September 2, 2012

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- MarcusAure1ius says:
  
  I heard although I have no verification that the 'Garanwa' plant was going to be planted as a way of stopping desertification, before this happened the war started and the seeds from the seed bank ended were dispersed.
  
  5:47 am on September 3, 2012
  
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  - mohamed cheers says:
    
    Could you possibly say where it came from, which country and who was responsible for
    such ideas of stopping desertification? The sharp aggressive throns of this alien garanwa
    plant is only eaten by the Camels and it gives them a hard time. I think that plant needs a
    thorough expertise research.
    Cheers.
    
    8:29 am on September 3, 2012
    
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    - MarcusAure1ius says:
      
      I believe the 'Garanwaa's' latin name is Prosopis juliflora it is a native of Mexico, although I not sure by who or how it came to Somaliland however its introduction by NGO's in Ethiopia's Afar region is documented, where it is causing problems. I have heard one of the main reasons for its introduction is it can be used as a sustainable source of firewood and hence stop the chopping down of Acacia trees that take far longer to grow.
      
      9:57 am on September 3, 2012
      
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      - Kayse says:
        
        Well done Marcus, you seem well informed and up to date with back home. I also heard similar stories but I wasn't aware it came from Mexico. I did hear NGOs first introduced it to Daroor in Hawd and near by regions. It took over that region from other native plants such as the Acacia (qudhaac) and the galool (Acacia bussei).
        
        The Hawd's open space is no longer an open area, it is covered with galool…another aggressive tree.
        
        I personally think we should plant more of the meygaag and higlo trees…they are always green and desert tolerant along with dhacaar (Yuccas and Agaves).
        
        12:40 am on September 4, 2012
Ali1 says:

It's really sad how our trees in Somaliland and Somalia are dissipating at an alarming and incredible rate and now it's having a direct affect on our only major source of forign currency, the livestock trade.

Our people faile to understand that there is a direct link with the defortation taking place, the domestic consumption/export of charcoal to the Middle East, the year-on-year decline of our livestoke population/export and the repeated drought throughout our nation.

9:59 am on September 3, 2012

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Cudon says:

I have never seen this tree in Somalia not in my region anyway.

10:21 am on September 3, 2012

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Waddaniyad says:

As far as I know, the only group that have Indian heritage, are living in Berbera, only a few families. Somalis as a whole appears to be a mixed specie apparently (according to some historics). as far back as the Ancient Egyptians.

4:36 pm on September 3, 2012

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