Observations by devendrabhardwaj

Bread flower , दूधी की बेल
Botanical name: Vallaris solanacea

Family: Apocynaceae
Location-136, Nemi Nagar Ext.,Vaishali Nagar,Jaipur,Rajasthan
This vine was named in honor of the German botanist Friedrich Adolf Heine. It is an endemic creeper of India and Burma. The bark of the stem is brown, spotted, which when cut produces white latex. The flowers have a strong, fragrant fragrance, said to be similar in smell to the leaves of another kewra plant, which is used to flavor rice in some countries. Milkweed vine is an essential component of 'Bunga Rampai', a decorated arrangement of finely cut, fragrant leaves used for Malay weddings. This vine can also be prepared as a dense bush. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It is the larval host plant of Blue Tiger, it flowers in December-April.
The milky latex of the plant is used to treat ringworm, skin infections. The bark oil has anti-cancer, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhea and cardiotonic properties. It can be planted from seeds and cuttings.

Variation in host plants of oriental lemon emigrant
Oriental Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona pomona). It is also known as common immigrant. This species is not legally protected in India under any schedule of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Common host plants of the larvae are Kachnar, Dhak, Cassia, Amaltas, Kala Shisham, Senna tora (Winter-Blythe 1957, Kunte 2000), Senna siamia (Winter-Blythe 1957) or Kunte 2000, Robinson et al. 2010), Sesbania grandiflora (V.C. Balakrishnan pers. obs. 2017). All of them belong to the Fabaceae family. But I have found it on the host plant Cycas revoluta which is completely different. The picture shows pupa capsules and adults on Cycas revoluta.
Main references
Nithin, R., V.C. Balakrishnan, P.V. Churi, S. Kalesh, S. Prakash, and K. Kunte. 2018. Larval host plants of butterflies of the Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 10(4): 11495-11550.

Greater coucal, called Bhardwaj Bird in Hindi
The greater cuckoo (Centropus sinensis), called Bhardwaj bird in Hindi, is a bird native to a wide area in the Indian subcontinent and the southeast. Its plumage is black, with purple sheen and dark brown feathers. The overall appearance is harsh, the feathers on the forehead are shiny and dark black, and the neck and chest feathers have strong shiny shafts.
The crow pheasant, now commonly called the greater cuckoo, does not belong to the crow family, Corvidae, but is a larger species (48 cm) belonging to the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. However, unlike the cuckoo, it has a large crow-like appearance, and the bird's non-parasitic behavior is in contrast to most cuckoos, which exhibit brood parasitism, a behavior in which the nests of other birds (the host parents) are destroyed. Involves laying eggs. The Greater Kookaburra cares for its young on its own, unlike most members of its family. They make their nests from big leaves. In this picture he is warming his body in the lukewarm morning sun.

Important medicinal plants near your home
Krishna Neel or Neeli (Anagallis arvensis)

Krishna Neel or Neeli (Anagallis arvensis/ Anagalisha arvensis) is a very common plant, which with its blue flowers is often seen in fields, roadsides or other empty places these days. It is also known by such names as cat booty, pimpernel, and shepherd's weatherglass. It is known in Sanskrit by the names Neeli, Neelini, Ashita, Rangapatri, Neelika, Ranjani, Shriphali, Tuttha, and Graminaya. The flowers usually close from midday to early afternoon, and are said to foretell rainy weather if they close early.
It was once used in the treatment of epilepsy and mental problems. But there is no research to support its efficacy. It contains toxic saponins and cytotoxic cucurbitacins.
This blue flower also has medicinal properties which are used for countless diseases, let us know about it in detail. Neel is by nature bitter, pungent, hot, short, dry, and pungent, provides relief from phlegm, and is beneficial for hair. It is carminative, choleretic, diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant, carminative, purgative, stimulant and anthelmintic. The infusion is used in the treatment of ascites, skin infections, and liver and gall bladder disorders. According to Ayurveda, indigo leaves, roots, stem and seeds have medicinal properties. They can also be used after drying. Overdose may cause polyuria and tremors. SBL Anagallis Arvensis Mother Tincture is an effective homeopathic remedy that is primarily used to treat skin disorders. It is highly useful in treating eczema and provides relief from itchy skin all over the body. It is used for washing clothes and bathing in Nepal.
If the wound is not healing quickly then applying the paste of blue root helps in healing the wound. If you get headache every day due to daily stress, then grinding blue root, stem and leaves and applying it on the forehead provides relief from headache. Consuming blue root, leaf and stem powder (1-2 grams) is beneficial in getting rid of phlegm, shortness of breath, chronic (inflammatory disease in the lungs), and swelling in the tubes of the lungs, whooping cough or whooping cough, heart disease. . If you are troubled by the problem of constipation every morning, then consuming 1-2 grams of Neelani fruit and root powder is beneficial in softening the stool and reducing constipation and liver swelling. Applying the paste of Neelani leaves on the warts of piles provides relief in piles. Grinding indigo seeds and applying it on the joints provides relief from the pain of rheumatism or arthritis.

Purple Sunbird
Cinnyris asiaticus
136, Nemi Nagar Extension, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Often you would see it jumping here and there in flower gardens, sucking the juice of flowers. The head and part of the back of the male are brown and the rest is blue. In winter the male also becomes identical to the female. During the breeding season, the color of the male becomes very beautiful, radiant blue and cyan. Their beak is black in colour, long, bent downwards and eyes are black in colour. This bird is in the transition stage from its regular plumage to breeding plumage. In this case, it is changing its color from bright yellow feathers to purple. This time this process has started a little earlier. Although the breeding season of Shakarkhora is from March to June, but according to regional diversity, it has also been observed from January to August. Shakarkhora is a natural pollinating bird of flowers. When it puts its head into a flower to collect pollen, many pollen grains stick to it. When it does the same action on another flower, it transfers the pollen from the previous one to it.

Plains cupid (Luthrodes pandava)
Dated- 09.07.2023
Place- 136 Nemi Nagar Extension, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Habit- You must have often noticed that the newly emerged leaves of your Cycas have been eaten by some insect. This insect is none other than the favourite host plant of the larvae of the Plain Cupid butterfly, Cycas revoluta. The butterfly lays its light green eggs on newly emerging leaves of the host plant. Early instar larvae are purple in color but change to green in later stages. Caterpillars usually feed on tender leaves of cycas that have not yet hardened. Its larvae are often cared for by ants. Ants protect butterfly larvae from parasites and predators in exchange for a sugary fluid secreted from special glands on the caterpillar's back. Pupation takes place within the ant colony and the newly emerged butterfly comes out of the ant colony to harden its wings.

Species- Sphagneticola calendulacea
Family- Asteraceae
Hindi Name- पीला भंगरा Pilabhangara, Bhanra
English Name- Chinese Wedelia

Location- 136,Nemi Nagar Extention,Vaishali Nagar,Jaipur(Rajasthan),India
Habitat- It has a very wide ecological tolerance range, but grows best in sunny areas with well-drained, moist soil at low elevations
Description- Chinese Wedelia is a tender, spreading, and hairy herb, with the branches usually less than 50 cm long. The leaves are oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 2-4.5 cm in length, and narrowed at both ends. The margins are entire or obscurely toothed; and both surfaces are covered with sharp-pointed, appressed, straight, and stiff hairs. The heads are stalked, about 1 cm in diameter, and yellow. The involucral bracts are oblong-ovate. The ray flowers are 8-12, spreading, about equal to the bracts, and broad; the disk flowers number about 20, and are short, narrow, and pointed. The achenes are nearly cylindric, and hairy
medicinal uses/uses- "Medicinal

• Leaves are used to dyeing grey hair and in promoting hair growth.
• Used for coughs, cephalalgia, skin diseases and alopecia.
• Juice of leaves used as snuff in cephalalgia.
• Decoction of seeds and flowers, as well as leaves, at half a teacup twice daily, used as deobstruent.
• Plant decoction used for uterine hemorrhage and menorrhagia.
• In Indian indigenous systems of medicine, juice of tender leaves used for jaundice, crushed leaves used for helminthiasis. Fresh juice from leaves use externally for skin problems.
• Extracts from dried or fresh leaves of plants applied as paste on wounds.
• In Bangladesh, used for cancer and alopecia.
• In Siddha medicine, used as hair growth stimulant and hair dyeing.
• Fruits, leaves, and stems traditionally used in childbirth and treatment of bites and stings, fever and infections

• Fresh plant, combined with sesame oil, used to treat elephantiasis.
  Others

• Dye: / Tattooing: Leaf juice used for tattooing with its deep indelible blue black color. Root is pounded to produce a black dye with salts of iron.

• Purifying water: Leaves used for purifying water. (35)"
  Remark- Transplanted
  Refrences- Flowers of India,Useful Tropical Plants,Philippine Medicinal Plant

Native to Europe and introduced into the United States late in the 19th century, chicory is cultivated extensively in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany and to some extent in North America. Its leaves are eaten as a vegetable or in a salad, and the roots may be boiled and eaten with butter. The plant is grown as a fodder or herbage crop for cattle.https://www.britannica.com/plant/chicory
The ancient Egyptians ate large amounts of chicory because it was believed that the plant could purify the blood and liver, while others have relied on the herb for its power to cure "passions of the heart." Chicory continues to be a popular herbal remedy due to its healing effects on several ailments.http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Chicory.html

"Cestrum nocturnum (Night-Blooming Jasmine) is a bushy evergreen shrub adorned with gracefully arching branches lined with glossy, pointed, dark green leaves. Plant Family is Solanaceae. Native to Mexico , Maintenance is Low, Water Needs Average, Soil Type Loamy Sand, Prune annuall best time is , before or after blooming is finished . In summer, a profusion of slender, tubular, creamy-white flowers, 1 in. long (2.5 cm), open in the evening and close the following morning. They release a sweet,musky and intoxicating perfume, inviting to romance, and are followed by clusters of small white berries. Plant Night-Blooming Jasmine near a driveway, window or entrance, where its delightful fragrance can be enjoyed. Ideal choice for screening, it can easily be trained to grow up a trellis or pruned into a lovely fragrant hedge.Grows moderately fast up to 8-10 ft. tall (240-300 cm) and 4-6 ft. wide (120-180 cm). Thrives in full sun to part shade, in organic, fertile, well-drained soils. Water regularly until established. This plant is sensitive to temperature extremes, so provide a sheltered location and protect it from harsh sun in hot summer areas. Feed in early spring. Virtually pest and disease free. Keep an eye out for whiteflies. Propagate by cuttings in Feb,March1.(1.https://www.gardenia.net/plant/cestrum-nocturnum)

A high-climbing, aggressively colonizing woody vine to 35 ft., climbing or scrambling over everything in its path by aerial rootlets. (1); Once the vine climbs to a certain height it grows horizontal branches that reach away from the support in a quest for light and space.(2);The flowers bloom in the summer for about 2 months and are very attractive to ruby-throated hummingbirds, and many types of birds like to nest in the dense foliage. Moths, bees, flies, and ants also feed on the nectar of the flowers. The flowers are followed by large seed pods. As these mature, they dry and split. Hundreds of thin, brown, paper-like seeds are released. These are easily grown when stratified. Larvae of Clydonopteron sacculana (the trumpet vine moth) feed on the seed pods.(3)
Ref: 1.https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cara2
2.http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Trumpet%20Creeper.

1. html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campsis_radicans

Cenchrus setiger is drought resistant, which makes it an excellent forage for improving low rainfall grazing lands. It is of minor value in erosion control although it has been proposed as a barrier against moving sand (FAO, 2010).