Evergreen foliage

By Chitra Radhakrishnan
The Hindu

The lettuce tree can also be grown as a large shrub. The
leaves have medicinal properties as well. They are also
edible and mostly used to treat rheumatism or arthritis.

Pisonia alba, commonly called the lettuce tree, is a
small, evergreen foliage tree or a large shrub found in
our gardens. It reaches a height of four to seven meters.
It is called sule sappu in Kannada and lachaikottei in
Tamil.

The tree is originally from the beach forests of Andaman
Islands and gardeners in Chennai fell in love with it.
The result - it began to go places and reached inland
gardens. Being a coastal tree it does not thrive as well
in land as it does on the east and west coasts of our
country.

The leaves are long and pointed and about 30 cms in
length. They are of a pleasing pale green colour.

Planted in good sunlight, the leaves may acquire a light
yellow colour. The plant belongs to Nyctaginaceae family
of bougainvillea and four o'clock plant. It is an irony
that Pisonia alba, unlike the two other family members,
is grown not for its flowers but for its leaves.

The plant grows well in any soil, but being a littoral
plant it shows preference for sandy soil. It is
propagated through cuttings, which root easily in sand.
Cuttings should be kept in a place where sunlight falls
on them. Over watering and no light and warmth in the
rainy season can rot the newly forming leaves on the
cuttings.

Pisonia alba can be planted singly in large compounds to
make it grow into trees or planted closely and trimmed
regularly to make a pleasant looking hedge.

In Chennai we often come across the plant alternatively
planted with the large leaved Acalypha wilkesiana.

The russet leaves of Acalypha contrasts well with the
pale green leaves of Pisonia alba.

Pisonia alba can also be grown in pots.

A number of potted plants kept in a line can come in
handy when making temporary barricades in the garden.

Pisonia has dense foliage and so trimming provides us
with large quantities of leaves if we have a few pisonia
trees or well-grown hedges. The leaves by their quality
and quantity make good cattle feed.

The tree rarely flowers in our country. The flowers are
small, green and inconspicuous. Some gardeners call the
tree by a quaint name in Telugu, as it grows well without
producing flowers or fruits.

The young leaves come in handy as a leafy vegetable. They
also have medicinal properties and people cook and eat
the leaves when suffering from rheumatism or arthritis.

The leaves are also carminative i.e. expels flatulence.
Leaves coated with eau de cologne are used to rub on
elephantoid swellings.
- Chitra Radhakrishnan

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"Dr. Jai Maharaj" wrote:

Honorable "JAI"..can these plants be used a mosquito repellers?? Trebor M

--
Worlds’ largest producer of Lin Xhi (Kombucha) Synergisms
Ignorance is its’ OWN reward!

In article <3EFB4FE7.43D205E@Grandecom.net>,
Ob-1 <SOS@Grandecom.net> posted:
Yes, Jai is my name, but why the quotation marks and capitalization?
What's your name, Trebor?

Some mosquitoes like them, some don't, and some are indifferent.

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Dr. Jai Maharaj wrote:
My goodness, I can not believe anyone would buy into type of junk. With
what is know today about the causes of arthritis and what can be done
about it,,,,, it is almost criminal to have people buy into such as this.

What kind of doctor did you say you were Dr. Jai....???

Harv

Did anyone notice there was no reply to the question about what kind of
doctor this person is? Take his advice and travel at your own risk.
You were told as best as anyone can about the whats and whos you are
dealing with. I am not going to post this on every post the troll does.
I prefer to think you are smarter than that.

Harv

In article <3EFB9E59.1040608@swbell.net>,
"Harvey R. Stone" <hrstone@swbell.net> posted:
Who are you babbling about? In any case, if you are
deserving of some information, you'll receive it. Evidently,
you aren't in tis case.

Huh? Travel where? Did you just take your medication?

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

"Harvey R. Stone" <hrstone@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:3EFB9E59.1040608@swbell.net...

Hi, Harv...

I do not believe that 'Dr.' Jai is deserving of ANY defense from a third
party (in fact, I'm so sick of him that he's been killfiled), but in good
conscience I must say that it HAS only been 2 hours since you asked the
question. Not everyone is online 24/7...


-HHW-

arthur wouk wrote:

Way to go!! GUFFAWS...B-0b1

--
Worlds’ largest producer of Lin Xhi (Kombucha) Synergisms
Recognition is the power of blessing, tuning yourself into reality!

Hard Headed Woman wrote:

The word is: AYURVEDIC!!! Get an education! B-0b1
--
Worlds’ largest producer of Lin Xhi (Kombucha) Synergisms
Recognition is the power of blessing, tuning yourself into reality!

Johnny Judas Jay "I suck- everything" Maharaj wrote:

More than you do, you f*cking peabrain.

I'll kick your sorry asstrolloger butt from Hawaii to Hungary, and then
I'll stuff "harmony's" head up your ass. Now go and complain to the
"authorities", asshole! Don't forget to provide your full name, street
address and personal telephone number for quick response.

Got mangoes, you piece of joothi shit?