Exotic green

HAVE you noticed a bright green broad-leafed plant as a hedge or growing by walls? The plant, Pisonia alba, is an evergreen tree distributed all over the world especially the tropics.

It grows 9-12 cm high and has pale green to yellowish green leaves. The plant very rarely produces flowers and the fruits are narrow and club-shaped.

In Tamil, this plant is called Lachai kottai (originally Latchiyam ketta keerai - a not so important palak). It is reported to be derived from repeated transplantation of wild plants of the same species. Pisonia alba is hardy and grows well in all gardens.

It can be propagated by cuttings.

The leaves of cultivated plants taste like lettuce and are used as vegetable and as salad. They can also be fed to cattle. Koottu prepared from this plant is very tasty and good for health, as it is rich in Vitamins A and C.

S. SESHADRI

K. KATHIRAVAN

S. IGNACIMUTHU

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