Ahmedabad, May 14: After experiencing what they call a "historic" moment, Gujarat Forest Department officials have collected 22 tonnes of bamboo seeds from two regions of Surat district during the gregarious bamboo flowering season, a fantastic phenomenon that is also associated with several superstitions among tribal folk.
The collection of seeds during the bamboo flowering, which occurs once in around 45 years, was done from Mangaldev and Fatheddev ranges of Surat district in South Gujarat, within 2,550 hectares of dense vegetation, a senior forest department official involved in the much-awaited project, told news agencies.
"Gregarious bamboo flowering that is scientifically known as 'tendrocly sprictus' and known as 'Manvel' in local parlance, is a historic moment for any forest official due to its rare occurrence in any bamboo growing region," the official said.
The team involved in this huge project has so far collected 22 tonnes of bamboo seeds and the sale of full length bamboos that have flowered is expected to touch Rs 10 lakh, he added.
The phenomenon also occurs in north-eastern states of the country like Mizoram where it is associated with tribal superstitions like famine and plague outbreak.
Bureau Report