oikos : for Ecological Services

May - 2010
Dear Nature Lovers, Greetings from oikos ! Evergreen forests hold a lot of surprises. Garambi – a seed that can be used as a paper weight hiding in pods that can grow up to 5 ft in length !! This liana can spread over trees in area up to an acre ! An indicator of evergreen, mature forests in Western Ghats, Garambi needs to be conserved along with its forest…
Regards, Ketaki & Manasi.
Garambi Scientific name: Entada rheedei Family: Mimosaceae Evergreen, extensive liana grows over old growth trees, in good forest patches & sacred groves in high rainfall regions - Ghats & Kokan. It requires large trees, fertile soil & shade to grow. It travels from one tree to other with twisted stem, forming swing like structures. Its main stem can reach 3 ft in diameter. The flowers, yellow-green in colour are very tiny in comparison with gigantic pods. Pods can grow to 3 to 4 ft in length & 10 cm in width, with round-flat brown coloured seeds. Seeds are used in local medicine. Presence of this liana is an indication of old growth, mature forests.

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