The wild side of Mumbai

After months of unrelenting heat when the first drops of rain kiss the parched earth the transformation that happens in nature is what poems are made of The petrichor the green blanket that envelopes the soil and the visibly happier birds and insects are treats even an urban dweller holed up in a highrise can enjoy But what transpires in the forest stays in the forest Fortunately Mumbaikars can witness this rejuvenation in the jungle within the city limits mdash the Sanjay Gandhi National ParkChlorophytum borivilianumA phenomenon specific to the fortnight following the first monsoon showers is the blooming of wild flowers on and near the rocky outcrops of the Kanheri Caves area in the national park which wither away in a week or two Found in isolated habitats these plants survive in adverse conditions They have medicinal properties and are also consumed as vegetables but urban residents are increasingly moving away from this connect with nature It was to rekindle this bond that we started the wild flower trail last year explains Dr Rajdeo Singh a botanist with the Bombay Natural History Society who will lead a trail at SGNP this SundayDr Singh tells us about some of these ephemeral beauties you are likely to spot on the threehour long trailDr Rajdeo SinghBorivli localFirst described from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park Chlorophytum borivilianums nomenclature is an ode to one of the regions in India it is endemic to Popularly called safed musli it is a small herb with fingerlike tuberous roots and linear leaves lying flat on ground The white flowers grow in dense elongated clusters While its leaves are used as wild vegetables the tubers extensive extraction from the wild for their aphrodisiac properties has resulted in the plants Critically Endangered IUCN statusAnother plant found originally on the rocky surface above the Kanheri Caves is Dipcadi saxorum It belongs to the onion family and has lilylike linear leaves and white flowers arranged in a long stalkCeropegia attenuataFlowers for the godsCeropegia attenuata sada khantudi in Marathi belongs to the milkweed family Its flowers are offered to Lord Hanuman in the northern stretch of the Western Ghats mdash from southern Gujarat to northern Goa mdash the region it is endemic to A small tuberous herb with linear leaves its flowers resemble a fountain of wax mdash an adaptative feature that helps the species withstand rains as the water drips awayChlorophytum tuberosumVeggie delightAlso known as safed musli Chlorophytum tuberosum is a small herb with tuberous roots and linear leaves which are used as wild vegetables Its white flowers grow in dense elongated clusters Another flowering plant consumed as a vegetable is the Amorphophallus commutatus or dragon stalk yam Popularly called shevale it comprises cylindrical spikes with flowers and a coloured leaf much like anthuriums The spikes are commonly collected by tribals to make a sabzi which is also a hattip to sound indigenous knowledge For the calcium oxalate crystals in the flowers can cause itching To dissolve these crystals shevale bhaji is always cooked with kokum or tamarindNervilia aragoanaAnnual storageLocally known as sada khantudi Ceropegia attenuata belongs to the milkweed family Among the first to bloom on the forest floor during premonsoon showers Nervilia aragoana or dudukis life cycle involves flowering followed by fruiting and leafing The terrestrial tuberous orchid stores its food for the rest of the year in its underground tuber The greenish unisexual flowers feature one variegated petal to attract insects and have an inbuilt guiding pattern to ensure successful pollinationOn June 23 8 amAt Main gate Sanjay Gandhi National Park Borivli EastCall 9969798447Cost Rs 1000Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates