This is true that we cant interpret science with our theories. They are just hypothesis and assumptions. The number of leaflets in compound leaves vary a lot but that too depend on the species. In some plants the numbers are always fixed, like Butea (3), Marsilea (4), Regnellidium (2); but in some like members of Araliaceae, Alstonia, Bombax etc. Its not a big deal. Personally I feel, it may be due to availability of nutrient during that particular times. Its just like having twin or quadruplet or triplet baby. You can never predict it in advance!!! Pankaj
On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 1:09 PM, Anandi Sharan <sharan.ana...@gmail.com> wrote: > i started trying to figure out the logic in the number of leaves on > each compound leaf. 6 on some twigs, repeated, if there are 7 then > this is also repeated on the next level, others have 9. then i googled > and found alstonia scholaris used in a scientific paper to model a > virtual tree. after applying the procedure the author says "the > difference between the model constructed from our system and the > target plant remains. this is because of the complexity in nature > which [sic] the random could not easily interpreted and calculated by > humans." (p.6). i still have not found anything about the maths > underlying the number of leaves on compound leaves as the tree grows. > so i offer this link as a small contribution to the stories instead. > my conclusion: it must be this gap between what would be > mathematically perfect and what is, that makes nature so perfect. :) > > http://bioquest.org/products/files/13157_Real-time%203D%20Plant%20Structure%20Modeling%20by%20L-System.pdf > > On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 10:12 AM, Pankaj Kumar <sahanipan...@gmail.com> wrote: >> I dont know, may be the leaves are insect repellent. >> There are could be other reasons. >> There are some funny stories about many such plants. >> For example, why Julius Ceaser had this Laurel Leaf crown though he >> was a king!!! >> People say that he was bald and so some herbal medicine guy told him >> to wear Laurel Leaf Crown to get back the hairs. >> When people came to know about this, they started making fun of him. >> Embarrassed by this, he made a rule that Laurel Leaf crown will be >> worn only by the royal king and even started giving this as prize to >> the athletes even in during Olympics. >> >> Pankaj >> >> On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 3:22 AM, nabha meghani <nabha-megh...@gmx.de> wrote: >>> two more questions: >>> what is so special about this leaf? >>> the leaf dosen't look so big! >>> Is there any foto available of this "giving" >>> Thanks >>> Nalini >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pankaj Kumar" <sahanipan...@gmail.com> >>> To: "nabha meghani" <nabha-megh...@gmx.de> >>> Cc: "tanay bose" <tanaybos...@gmail.com>; "kiran srivastava" >>> <srivastava...@gmail.com>; <analawa...@gmail.com>; >>> <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com>; <atthar.rash...@gmail.com> >>> Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 9:38 PM >>> Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:59908] Alstonia scholaris in fruit >>> >>> >>> The compound leaf was used as a plate and the degree which was usually >>> on the paper or parchment sheet or may be leather, or whatever, is >>> kept on the plate. >>> Pankaj >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 2:05 AM, nabha meghani <nabha-megh...@gmx.de> wrote: >>>> >>>> Is the text "written" on the leaves? how is that done? >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: tanay bose >>>> To: Pankaj Kumar >>>> Cc: kiran srivastava ; analawa...@gmail.com ; >>>> indiantreepix@googlegroups.com >>>> ; atthar.rash...@gmail.com >>>> Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 8:54 PM >>>> Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:59906] Alstonia scholaris in fruit >>>> This is still a practice in Viswa Bharati university >>>> shantiniketan, west bengal India >>>> Tanay >>>> >>>> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 10:59 AM, Pankaj Kumar <sahanipan...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Its called SCHOLARIS because, the old times plates of leaves were >>>>> exclusively used to give away degrees to the students. >>>>> Pankaj >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 8:37 PM, tanay bose <tanaybos...@gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> > The state tree of Bengal >>>>> > tanay >>>>> > >>>>> > On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 6:14 AM, Pankaj Kumar <sahanipan...@gmail.com> >>>>> > wrote: >>>>> >> >>>>> >> One of the local names of Alstonia scholaris is CHHATIM or CHATNI >>>>> >> CHAAL. >>>>> >> The bark is supposed to be very useful for blood purification >>>>> >> especially in case of diabetes or Jaundice in Jharkhand as well as in >>>>> >> Ayurveda. Thats why Mr. Nalwade must have seen bark scrapping. >>>>> >> Pankaj >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 7:41 PM, kiran srivastava >>>>> >> <srivastava...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >> > A little trivia: Large branches of the big Alstonia scholaris tree >>>>> >> > behind >>>>> >> > the house I temporarily stay in Delhi was cut down ostensibly to >>>>> >> > allow >>>>> >> > the >>>>> >> > sun rays on the flower bed in the small park. Apparently, the local >>>>> >> > garden >>>>> >> > community had this tree trimmed by the NDMC authorities. But it >>>>> >> > wouldn't >>>>> >> > surprise me if branches of trees are cut to allow the sun in winter >>>>> >> > to >>>>> >> > warm >>>>> >> > up courtyards that are otherwise completely blotted from the the >> >>>>> >> > > sun. >>>>> >> > I >>>>> >> > have >>>>> >> > seen it happen. Before it was trimmed the flowers were within >>>>> >> > touching >>>>> >> > distance from the 2nd floor terrace. >>>>> >> > There are several trees such as Semul (Bombax malabaricum) and Siris >>>>> >> > (Albizia lebbek) growing in small, old colony roads whose branches >>>>> >> > have >>>>> >> > spread widely blocking sunlight in homes. They could be trimmed >>>>> >> > especially, >>>>> >> > if old people want to sit out and soak in the sun during Delhi's >>>>> >> > winters...and this winter its really cold. >>>>> >> > Cheers, >>>>> >> > Kiran Srivastava >>>>> >> > >>>>> >> > On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 7:08 PM, Rashida Atthar >>>>> >> > <atthar.rash...@gmail.com> >>>>> >> > wrote: >>>>> >> >> >>>>> >> >> Ajay ji according to info. in the book 'Trees of Mumbai' pg 51 ..." >>>>> >> >> In >>>>> >> >> olden days the wood of this tree was used to make slates for >>>>> >> >> children, >>>>> >> >> hence scholaris." The book further adds "The dita bark of the tree >>>>> >> >> is >>>>> >> >> used >>>>> >> >> in Indian medecine for treating asthma and heart ailments, fever >> >>>>> >> >> >> and >>>>> >> >> diarrhoea.During the Diwali festival, the bitter bark is consumed >>>>> >> >> before >>>>> >> >> eating sweets to neutralize the excessive intake of sugar." >>>>> >> >> regards, >>>>> >> >> Rashida. >>>>> >> >> >>>>> >> >> >>>>> >> >> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 2:54 PM, Ajay Nalawade >>>>> >> >> <analawa...@gmail.com> >>>>> >> >> wrote: >>>>> >> >>> >>>>> >> >>> We noted Some Bark scraping in Konkan region. >>>>> >> >>> Can anybody tell for which purpose this bark is used??? >>>>> >> >>> >>>>> >> >>> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 1:51 PM, Arijit Banerjee >> >>> >>>>> >> >>> <ari...@gmail.com> >>>>> >> >>> wrote: >>>>> >> >>>> >>>>> >> >>>> Alstonia scholaris in fruit, >>>>> >> >>>> Patuli, Kolkata, India >>>>> >> >>>> 8 January 2011 >>>>> >> >>>> >>>>> >> >>>> The fruits do look quite similar to those of Wrightia tinctoria >>>>> >> >>>> (Khirni) >>>>> >> >>>> >>>>> >> >>>> Arijit Banerjee >>>>> >> >>>> >>>>> >> >>> >>>>> >> >> >>>>> >> > >>>>> >> > >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> -- >>>>> >> *********************************************** >>>>> >> "TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!" >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) >>>>> >> Research Associate >>>>> >> Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project >>>>> >> Department of Habitat Ecology >>>>> >> Wildlife Institute of India >>>>> >> Post Box # 18 >>>>> >> Dehradun - 248001, India >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > -- >>>>> > Tanay Bose >>>>> > Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant. >>>>> > Department of Botany. >>>>> > University of British Columbia . >>>>> > 3529-6270 University Blvd. >>>>> > Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada) >>>>> > Phone: 778-323-4036 (Mobile) >>>>> > 604-822-2019 (Lab) >>>>> > 604-822-6089 (Fax) >>>>> > ta...@interchange.ubc.ca >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> *********************************************** >>>>> "TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!" >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) >>>>> Research Associate >>>>> Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project >>>>> Department of Habitat Ecology >>>>> Wildlife Institute of India >>>>> Post Box # 18 >>>>> Dehradun - 248001, India >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Tanay Bose >>>> Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant. >>>> Department of Botany. >>>> University of British Columbia . >>>> 3529-6270 University Blvd. >>>> Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada) >>>> Phone: 778-323-4036 (Mobile) >>>> 604-822-2019 (Lab) >>>> 604-822-6089 (Fax) >>>> ta...@interchange.ubc.ca >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> *********************************************** >>> "TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!" >>> >>> >>> Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) >>> Research Associate >>> Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project >>> Department of Habitat Ecology >>> Wildlife Institute of India >>> Post Box # 18 >>> Dehradun - 248001, India >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> *********************************************** >> "TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!" >> >> >> Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) >> Research Associate >> Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project >> Department of Habitat Ecology >> Wildlife Institute of India >> Post Box # 18 >> Dehradun - 248001, India >> > > > > -- > ---- > -- *********************************************** "TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!" Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) Research Associate Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project Department of Habitat Ecology Wildlife Institute of India Post Box # 18 Dehradun - 248001, India
