I just realised that I haven't posted about flowers in a while. What a crime, considering that Shimla and its surrounds are positively bursting with a mad variety at this time of the year. So here is a selection:
Cranesbill or the wild geranium.I found this wonderful flower a-bloom in profusion in the President's estate in Mashobra. Some plants were 30 cms tall, others, about 100 cms. The flower itself was about 3 to 4 cms in diameter. According to Nimret Handa, "cranesbill" is so named because of this plant's long, beaked fruit which resembles a crane's bill. However, the fruit wasn't visible at this point (early August).
Wild strawberry
The first picture you see above is of the flower and the second, the fruit of the wild strawberry plant. The leaves were trifoliate; the flowers, five-petalled. According to Inder Singh, the gardener at the President's estate, each petal will give way to a red, succulent strawberry. Singh said that it is also known as "kiphalia" locally.
The picture of the strawberry, incidentally, was taken in June this year. Reminds me of Kipling's words: "Red jewels warm / from Nature's heart".
The picture of the strawberry, incidentally, was taken in June this year. Reminds me of Kipling's words: "Red jewels warm / from Nature's heart".
Jungli haldi or wild turmeric Found this plant growing in a shady nook in Mashobra. I'm still a bit doubtful whether it is curcuma aromatica. This belongs to the ginger family and apparently contains "volatile oils" which can help to remove excessive lipids from blood, promote bile (to clear the congestion of liver) and reduce inflammation. Both Indian and Chinese traditional medicinal schools swear by it.
KnotweedThe hillsides of Mashobra are covered with pale pink and deep crimson knotweed. (Fallopia japonica). This is a slender, erect plant. Each flower spike grows by itself and was, in some places, up to 15 cms in height. In the US and Europe, this pretty little plant is treated as an invasive species (read weed).
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