Nature Watch
Butterflies are among the most easily recognizable of all animals. Their wings, unlike those of most other insects are colourful and opaque and they are of a characteristic shape. Their popularity is due largely to their appearance. Many butterflies are among the most gorgeous of creatures, noted for their glorious colours. The development of colour, its range, diversity and brilliance is unrivalled anywhere in the Animal Kingdom, except possibly by birds.
Butterflies are always active during the day. This is one important factor, which draws our attention to them, because it not only ensures that their colours are fully appreciated, but it contrasts sharply with the behaviour of many other animals, which are mostly nocturnal.
The life cycle of the butterfly is no less remarkable than the beauty of the adult. One of the regularly performed miracles of Nature is the transformation of the usually ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. This turning of a beast into a beauty includes an important ecological feature – the larva and adult are able to lead totally different life styles – thus enabling these two stages of the life cycle to avoid competing with each other for the same food.
Unfortunately, butterflies are threatened by habitat destruction almost everywhere. Some of the richest areas for wildlife are being cleared at such rates that even if the butterflies could survive in their new habitats, their larvae probably would not, due to loss of their specific food plants. It is no use protecting butterflies because they are attractive, unless we take greater care to conserve their unattractive larvae and their habitat.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF PAPAYA
Carica papaya, linn.
Papaw or papaya is one of the most common plants grown in tropical countries. It is an upright usually branchless, fast-growing tree. The trunk is soft, grayish, marked with fallen leaf scars. The leaves are deeply lobed, with long stalks, borne on the top of the tree. The male flowers are in long-stalked clusters, but the female flowers are stalkless or sessile. The fruit is obovoid, yellow-orange when ripe, fleshy, juicy, and often contains numerous black seeds although seedless varieties are also available today. It is a common fruit which is found in the market during the fruiting season.
Medicinal use:
The root
- Used as a tonic and as a medicine for excessive bleeding of the kidneys.
- Used to kill or expel worms from the body.
The latex
- Used for corns and warts.
- Expels or kills worms from the body.
The leaves
- Helps in digestion.
- Heals wounds and fresh cuts.
- Used for the treatment of ulcer, eczema, warts and boils.
The flowers
- Remedy for hoarseness, cough, bronchitis, inflamed trachea, influenza and cough.
The seeds
- Said to be an antidote for cancer.
- Used to kill or expel worms from the body.
- Used to clean the stomach and helps in the proper functioning of the liver.
- Remedy against tuberculosis.
- Promotes menstrual flow.
The fruit
- Helps in digestion.
- Promotes flow of urine.
- Softens inflamed parts.
- Used for all stomach and bowel diseases.
- Good for constipation, gastritis, diabetes, asthma, jaundice, flatulence, cough, chest problems, stomach and duodenal ulcers and indigestion.