TRADITIONAL FENCING PLAND AND ITS CONSERVATORY NATURE IN KASARAGOD DISTRICT, KERALA

Ethnobotanical Leaflets 14: 681- 86, 2010.

Traditional Plant Fencing and its Conservatory Nature in Kasaragod District, Kerala, India

Subrahmanya Prasad K* and Raveendran K

Department of Post Graduate Studies & Research in Botany

Sir Syed College, Taliparamba, Kannur 670 142

Issued: 01 June, 2010

Abstract

Villages of Kasaragod District are centres of agricultural practices. The fields often face the threat of wild animals and grazing. To overcome these problems temporary or permanent fences are made using different plants. These fences not only protect the fields but also play an important role in the conservation of some plants. The paper lists 67 plant species used by the villagers of Kasaragod District, Kerala for fencing.

Key Words :, traditional fencing, plants, Kasaragod District

Introduction

Kasaragod District is located between 11⁰18¹N and 12⁰48¹N and 74⁰41¹E and 75⁰26¹E. It is bordered on the North and East by Karnataka State, while the Western boundary is formed by a long stretch of coastline and South by Kannur District. Topographically it consists of a sandy coast, an undulating plateau and mountainous high range. The midland covers 2/3 of the total area and plays a significant role in the economy as these are the centre of agriculture. Like anywhere else these areas also face the threat of grazing, attack by wild animals and entry of human beings. To overcome these problems the rural people developed unique fencing methods through trial and error method. The village people construct permanent or temporary boundaries around their field or courtyard using different plants. Present study is aimed at the elucidation of different plants used for traditional fencing.

Methodology

Extensive field trips were carried out to different villages of Kasaragod district. Personal observation of the process of construction of these fences were done and recorded. Informations regarding the different plants used for this purpose, their properties, uses, effectiveness are collected through personal interview with the villagers. Plants were collected, made into herbarium, identified using floras ( Hooker J D, 1892 1897; Gamble J S & Fischer C E C, 1915 - -1936; Manilal K S & Sivarajan V V,1982; Mathew K M, 1984; Ramachandran V S & Nair V J,1988; Gopalakrishna Bhat K,2003; Anil Kumar et al;2005). The voucher specimens were deposited at the SSC herbaria.

Observations

From present study it is clear that the village people are using a total of 67 plant species belonging to 46 genera and 25 families, either live or in dried state for fencing. The different plants used for fencing, their family, local name, habit, condition are listed in table 1. 36 spinous or thorny plants are used for this purpose as these help to prevent entry into fields. The plants with thick foliage cause obstruction to sight of cattle, there by preventing grazing. Adhadoda zeylanica Medikus., Duranta erecta L., Euphorbia tirucalli L., Hibiscus spp., Jatropha spp., Justicia gendarussa Burm.f., Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit., are preferred due to their unpalatability to cattle. Acacia caesia (L.) Willd., A.torta (Roxb.) Craib., Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam., Lantana camara L., Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC., Pandanus spp. make their presence as they form impenetrable thickets. Bamboos, cacti, Jatropha spp., Pandanus spp. and Vitex spp. prevent soil erosion. Bambusa arundinacea(Retz.) Roxb., Bombax ceiba L., Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn., Hopea ponga (Dennst.) Mabberly, Pandanus spp., Terminalia travancorensis Wight &Arn. and Vitex spp. act as wind breakers and also increase the firmness of the fences. Ornamental plants are often planted along these fences to impart attraction to eyes while in some areas these were supplemented with many fruit yielding climbers to make them economically important.

Table 1. Plants used for Traditional Fencing.

Sl. No.	Botanical Name	Family	Local Name	Habit	Condition	Role
1.	Acacia caesia (L.) Willd.	Mimosaceae	Kaadu seege Chende mullu	Climbing prickly shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
2.	Acacia chundra Willd.	Mimosaceae	Kaachu, Khadhira	Small tree	Dried / Live	Mechanical barrier
3.	Acacia sinuata (Lour.) Merr.	Mimosaceae	Seege	Prickly climbing shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
4.	*Acacia torta (Roxb.) Craib.	Mimosaceae	Chende mullu	Prickly climbing shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
5.	*Adhatoda zeylanica Medikus.	Acanthaceae	Aadusoge	Large shrub	Live	Planted on the boundary
6.	*Agave americana L.	Agavaceae	Daddoli	Stout shrub	Live	Mechanical barrier
7.	Agave sisalana Perr.ex Engelm.	Agavaceae	Daddoli	Stout shrub	Live	Mechanical barrier
8.	Alangium salvifolium (L.f.) Wangerin ssp. hexapetalum (Lamk.) Wangerin	Alangiaceae	Ankole-mara	Large straggling shrub	Dried / Live	Mechanical barrier
9.	*Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Roxb.	Poaceae	Bidiru	Large thorny bamboo	Dried / Live	Wind breaker
10.	Barleria prionites L.	Acanthaceae	Mullu-gorate	Spinous under shrub	Live	Prevents entry
11.	Bobax ceiba L.	Bombacaceae	Kempu booruga, Shaalmalee	Large tree	Live	Grown on boundaries
12.	Borassus flabellifer L.	Arecaceae	Taali mara	Tall palm	Dried leaf	Mechanical barrier
13.	Bougainvillea x buttiana Holttum & Standey	Nyctaginaceae	Kaagadada hoovina gida	Spinous climber	Dried/live	Mechanical barrier
14.	Bougainvillea glabra Choisy.	Nyctaginaceae	'Kagadada hoovina gida	Spinous climber	Dried/live	Mechanical barrier
15.	Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.	Caesalpiniaceae	Gajjuga, Kalenji kaai	Scandent prickly shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
16.	Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam.	Caesalpiniaceae	Cheemullu	Prickly scandent shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
17.	Canthium coromandelicum (Burm.f.) Alston	Rubiaceae	Kaare-gida	Stout spinous shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
18.	Canthium rheedii DC.	Rubiaceae	Madimal kare	Scandent spinous shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
19.	Carissa carandas L.	Apocynaceae	Karande	Large armed shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
20.	*Carissa congesta Wight.	Apocynaceae	Karande	Large armed shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
21.	Caryota urens L.	Arecaceae	Baini mara, Eendu	Tall palm	Dried leaf	Mechanical barrier
22.	Casuarina equisetifolia L.	Casuarinaceae	Gaali-mara	Large tree	Live	Wind breaker
23.	Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirveng.	Rubiaceae	Maggare	Large armed shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
24.	Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.	Bombacaceae	Booruga	Large tree	Live	Planted on boundaries
25.	Cereus peruvianus (L.) Mill.	Cactaceae	Kalli	Arborescent cactus	Live	Prevents entry
26.	Cordia cylindristachya Roemer & Schultes.	Boraginaceae		Shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
27.	Corypha umbraculifera L.	Arecaeae	Pane	Tall palm	Dried leaf	Mechanical barrier
28.	Duranta erecta L.	Verbenaceae	Hucchu elasi	Erect or straggling shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
29.	Erythrina variegataL. var. orientalis (L.) Merr.	Papilionaceae	Pongaare, Halivana	Large armed tree	Live	Planted on boundary
30.	Euphorbia antiquorum L.	Euphorbiaceae	Chadurakalli	Fleshy spinous shrub	Live	Prevents entry
31.	*Euphorbia neriifolia L.	Euphorbiaceae	Elekalli	Fleshy spinous shrub	Live	Prevents entry
32.	Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham.	Euphorbiaceae	Kalli	Fleshy spinous shrub	Live	Prevents entry
33.	Euphorbia tirucalli L.	Euphorbiaceae	Kolkalli	Fleshy shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
34.	Furcraea foetida (L.)Haw.	Agavaceae		Stout shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
35.	Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)Walp.	Papilionaceae	Itina gida	Small tree	Live	Planted on boundary
36.	Hibiscus rosa sinensis L.	Malvaceae	Daasavala	Large shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
37.	Hibiscus schizopetalus(Mast.) Hook.f.	Malvaceae	Jaali daasavala	Large shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
38.	Hopea ponga (Dennst.) Mabberly	Diptero carpaceae	Kalmara, Karimara	Large tree	Live	Planted on boundary
39.	*Jatropha curcas L.	Euphorbiaceae	Bili almuda	Large shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
40.	Jatropha gossypifolia L.	Euphorbiaceae	Govalmuda	Small shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
41.	Justicia betonica L.	Acanthaceae	Sanna aadusoge	Scandent shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
42.	Justicia gendarussa Burm.f.	Acanthaceae	Vatamkolli	Under shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
43.	*Lantana camara L.	Verbenaceae	Kaadugulabi	Rambling shrub	Dried/Live	Mechanical barrier
44.	Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr.	Leeaceae	Nedil	Large shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
45.	*Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.	Papilionaceae	Naayi sonang	Twining herb	Live	Prevents entry
46.	Naringi crenulata(Roxb.) Nicolson	Rutaceae	Kadukanchi	Spinous tree	Dried	Mechanical barrier
47.	Ochlandra scriptoria (Dennst.) C.Fischer	Poaceae	Vaate bidiru	Shrubby bamboo	Live/Dried	Mechanical barrier
48.	Ochlandra travancorica Benth.ex.Gamble	Poaceae	Vaate bidiru	Shrubby bamboo	Live/Dried	Mechanical barrier
49.	Opuntia stricta (Haw.)Haw. var. dillenii (Ker-Gawler)L. Benson	Cactaceae	Papaasukalli	Flat shrub	Live	Prevents entry
50.	Pandanus fascicularis Lam.	Pandanaceae	Kedage	Large shrub	Live	Prevents entry
51.	Pandanus kaida Kurz.	Pandanaceae	Kaadukedage	Large shrub	Live	Prevents entry
52.	Pandanus unipapillatus Denst.	Pandanaceae	Mundangi	Large shrub	Live	Prevents entry
53.	Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit.	Euphorbiaceae	Mandeli croton	Succulent herb	Live	Prevents entry
54.	Petalidium barlerioides(Roth.) Nees.	Acanthaceae	Basavanapada	Large shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
55.	Phyllanthus myrtifolius	Euphorbiaceae		Under shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
56.	Plumeria rubra L.	Apocynaceae	Gosampige	Small tree	Live	Planted on boundary
57.	Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii (Munro.) Naithani	Poaceae	Gandubidiru	Slender bamboo	Live	Planted on boundary
58.	Scleropyrum pentandrum (Dennst.) Mabberley	Santalaceae	Naaikuli	Small armed tree	Dried / Live	Mechanical barrier
59.	Securinega leucopyrus (Willd.) Muell.-Arg.	Euphorbiaceae	Kurambaral	Straggling shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
60.	Terminalia travancorensis Wight &Arn.	Combretaceae	Kattukadukka	Large tree	Live	Planted on boundary
61.	Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T.Anders.	Acanthaceae	Krishna-hoo	Erect shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
62.	Vitex negundo L.	Verbenaceae	Lakki, Nekki	Large shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
63.	Vitex trifolia L.	Verbenaceae	Karpura nekki	Stout shrub	Live	Planted on boundary
64.	Ziziphus glaberrima (Sedgw.) Sant.	Rhamnaceae	Kottakka	Small tree	Dried	Mechanical barrier
65.	Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.	Rhamnaceae	Bugari	Small tree with drooping branches	Dried	Mechanical barrier
66.	Ziziphus oenoplia Mill.	Rhamnaceae	Choori mullu	Scandent shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier
67.	Ziziphus rugosa Lam.	Rhamnaceae	Kotte mullu	Scrambling shrub	Dried	Mechanical barrier

Discussion

On comparison with plants used for field fencing in North Gujarat (Bhasker L Punjani, 1998 ), it is clear that only 10 plants (indicated by*) are used both in Gujarat and Kerala for fencing. Sacred groves form the best example for plant conservation through belief while National Parks and sanctuaries for conservation through law. These traditional fences also help a lot in the conservation of many plants with spines and those forming impenetrable thickets, only because of their role in field fencing, otherwise by the time most of them might have disappeared from this universe. Moreover the large trees planted along the boundary act as wind breakers, thereby reducing the rate of evaporation from the field and barren land formation. Thus these traditional fences are time tested, easily affordable, easy to construct and play an important role in the conservation of many plants.

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the village people for their generous help during field survey. We are grateful to the Principal and Management, Sir Syed College, Taliparamba for providing facilities. One of the author, SPK is indebted to KSCSTE for financial support.

References

1. Anil Kumar, N., Sivadasan, M. & Ravi, N. 2005. Flora of Pathanamthitta, Daya Publishing House, Delhi.

2. Gamble,J.S. and Fischer, C.E.C. 1915 1936. Flora of Presidency of Madras, London.

3. Gopalakrishna Bhat, K. 2003. Flora of Udupi, Indian Naturalist (R), Udupi.

4. Hooker, J. D. 1892 1897. Flora of British India, London.

5. Manilal, K. S. and Sivarajan, V. V. 1982 Flora of Calicut, Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun.

6. Mathew, K.M. 1984. The Flora of Tamilnadu Carnatic, Thiruchirapalli.

7. Ramachandran, V. S. and Nair, V. J.1988. Flora of Cannanore, BSI, Calcutta.

8. Bhasker L. Punjani. 1998. Role of Plants in field fencing in Tribal areas of District Sabarkantha (North Gujarat), Ethnobotany, 10 : 56-60.