Rare plant falls prey to myth

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI, NOV. 17. Myths and superstitions that play with innocent lives are not new to us and our country is replete with such fables. But this is a case of a rare plant falling victim to an unfounded belief of possessing power to enhance sexual potency in males.

The plant is Cycus beddomi, belonging to the cycadaceae family, that is endemic to Seshachalam hill ranges covering Chittoor and Cuddapah districts. Given the typical soil and climate found in the area, this particular species grows only here and nowhere else in the world, though other members of this Cycus family are grown as ornamental plants elsewhere.

The plant has an enemy in the form of local belief. Locals strongly believe in the myth that the starchy matter stored in the pith portion of the plant has aphrodisiac property and hence could be used for enhancement of sexual potency in males. It has been taken for granted that the plant improves virility, though no proof for such claims has been found anywhere. Even it is not known since when and from whom such a belief has taken its roots.

The plant is a peacock-feathered, perennial low shrub one resembling a small date palm. The stem is 3-4 feet tall and the trunk is garbed with woody bases of petioles. It belongs to the uni-sexual category, where male and female reproductive parts are grown in the same plant. It is this female part that gives a pungent odour which is believed to have this property. The plant with a dense foliage gives a sober look that is a pleasure to watch.

Instead of adoring the beauty of the treasure-trove that they have been gifted by God, local villagers -- some of whom have of late, turned into smugglers -- have begun plundering it. It is learnt that the pith portion is chopped, dried in sun and then cut into 1" cubes that sells in the domestic as well as international market like hot cakes.

Though there are villagers who do not believe in this superstition, the readymade market for the product in Chennai and elsewhere is making them to mercilessly axe the poor plant. After all, what they need is only believers to cash in on the myth and that is what they are at.

The lush-green Tirumala hills, which are part of the Seshachalam ranges, have a vast stretch where the cycus grows in abundance on its own. Part of it is managed by the TTD's forest wing while a major portion is looked after by the Forest department.

The Conservator of Forests, Tirupati Wild Life Management circle, Mr. P.K. Sharma, while admitting the existence of such a myth, categorically denied that the plant possessed any such magical cure to ``male problems.'' He also added that the smuggling activity had been curbed to the extent of 95 p.c. now by intensifying surveillance all over the forests and the approach routes.

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