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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge (IJTK) >
IJTK Vol.10 [2011] >
IJTK Vol.10(1) [January 2011] >
| Title: | Kair (Capparis decidua): A potential ethnobotanical weather predictor and livelihood security shrub of the arid zone of Rajasthan and Gujarat |
| Authors: | Singh, Dheeraj
Singh, Ranjay K |
| Keywords: | Kair
Capparis decidua
Economic desert shrub
Traditional food
Traditional medicine |
| Issue Date: | Jan-2011 |
| Publisher: | NISCAIR-CSIR, India |
| IPC Code: | Int. Cl.8: A47G 19/26; A23K; A01D 14/09; A01D 14/10; A01D 7/12 |
| Abstract: | Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew. commonly
known as Kair, is an important indigenous shrub found growing along farm
boundaries, orans, gochars (local grasslands) and wastelands, widely
distributed in arid and semi-arid tracts of India. It is a densely branched
shrub, reaching a height of 4-5 m, with a clear bole of 2.5 m. Its branches are
tender and waxy with rough, corky, gray bark. Kair has the ability to survive
in various habitats and can grow unattended and unprotected on barren lands. It
has good soil binding capacity, a fair tolerance to salinity and alkalinity,
and can help to improve the fertility of sand dunes and reduce alkalinity. Its
xerophytic qualities, including a deep taproot system, scanty foliage,
mucilaginous sap and tough conical spines make this shrub suitable for
cultivation on a large scale, especially to combat soil and wind erosion on
sandy wastelands. Significantly, the plant’s unique capacity to tolerate
drought and heat make it a good weather forecasting species, and it has played
an important role in the rural economy of western Rajasthan and Gujarat. It provides people with food (pickle and
vegetable), medicine, fodder, wood for carving, and fuel. The plant’s mature
fruits serve as valuable and integral source of nutrition for villagers of arid
and semiarid regions, and the immature fruits are collected from natural stands
and serve an additional source of income and nutrition for the rural poor.
Medicinally, it is used to treat in cardiac and gastric troubles. It is also
commonly used as a biofence and its termite-resistant wood is used by rural
people for making handles, cartwheels, and other items. |
| Page(s): | 146-155 |
| CC License: |  CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India |
| ISSN: | 0975-1068 (Online); 0972-5938 (Print) |
| Source: | IJTK Vol.10(1) [January 2011]
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