Sarhul, the spring festival, holds significant cultural importance for indigenous tribes such as the Mundas, Oraons, and Santhals. Particularly for the Oraon community, it stands out as the largest spring festival observed during the months of March and April. In their native language, it is referred to as βKhaddi,β symbolizing the symbolic union or marriage of the earth. The significance of the forest flower known as sakhua or Sal is paramount as it symbolizes the cultural importance deeply rooted within the forest ecosystem. Despite their inherent significance, forest flowers often go unnoticed, highlighting the need to acknowledge and appreciate their cultural and ecological value. During this festival, reverence is bestowed upon Dharti Mata, as, the wife of Lord Rama encompassing the celebration of all forms of nature.This festival exemplifies the indigenous tribesβ conviction in the autonomy of their nature-centric worship practices which shows their core value of religion different from brahamnical ideologies. It underscores their deep-rooted gratitude towards nature for the sustenance and resources it provides, showcasing a distinct cultural reverence for their environment and its bounty.
This festival provides a strong sense of identity, particularly for theOraon tribe who predominantly engaged in agriculture, adheres to Sarnaism as its religious belief system which is not Hinduism revering nature as integral to their spirituality, this community celebrates the festival by offering homage to trees and various natural elements.
Blepharitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the oil glands in the eyelids. The condition is a common cause of dry eyes. This disorder is commonly associated with skin or bacterial conditions. While it can be irritating, the condition does not cause permanent vision impairment. Blepharitis is normally defined by its location on the eyelid. Anterior blepharitis occurs on the outer edge of the eyelids while posterior blepharitis occurs on the inner edges of the lids.
Seven species of the family Corydalidae (Insecta: Megaloptera) are newly recorded from Myanmar, including a new species of the dobsonfly genus Protohermes van der Weele, 1907, Protohermes burmanus sp. nov. A total of 18 species of Megaloptera are now known from Myanmar.
Keywords: Megaloptera, Corydalinae, Chauliodinae, Protohermes, taxonomy, Burma
Barclay, A., Portman, R.W. & Hill, P.S.M. (2005) Tracheal gills of the dobsonfly larvae, or hellgrammite Corydalus cornutus L. (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 78, 181β185. https://doi.org/10.2317/0409.23.1
Contreras-Ramos, A. (1998) Systematics of the dobsonfly genus Corydalus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Thomas Say Publications in Entomology: Monographs. Entomological Society of America, Lanham, 360 pp. https://doi.org/10.4182/KKIO9247
Contreras-Ramos, A. (2011) Phylogenetic review of dobsonflies of the subfamily Corydalinae and the genus Corydalus Latreille (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Zootaxa, 2862 (1), 1β38. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2862.1.1
Cover, M.R. & Resh, V.H. (2008) Global diversity of dobsonflies, fishflies, and alderflies (Megaloptera; Insecta) and spongillaflies, nevrorthids, and osmylids (Neuroptera; Insecta) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia, 595, 409β417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9035-z
Gama-Neto, J.L. & Passos, M.A.B. (2018) Primeiro registro de Corydalus peruvianus Davis (Megaloptera: Coridalidae: Coridalinae) no Brasil. EntomoBrasilis, 11 (1), 45β48. https://doi.org/10.12741/ebrasilis.v11i1.704
Glorioso, M.J. (1981) Systematics of the dobsonfly subfamily Corydalinae (Megaloptera: Corydalidae). Systematic Entomology, 6, 253β290. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1981.tb00440.x
Hall, D.W. (2013) Eastern dobsonfly (adult), hellgrammite (larva) Corydalus cornutus (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae). EDIS, 6, EENY 414. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-in987-2013
Hamada, N. & AzevΓͺdo, C.A.S. (2024) Megaloptera Latreille, 1802. In: Rafael, J.A., Melo, G.A.R., de Carvalho, C.J.B., Casari, S.A. & Constantino, R. (Eds.), Insetos do Brasil: Diversidade e Taxonomia. 2nd Edition. Holos Editora, RibeirΓ£o Preto, pp. 546β551. https://doi.org/10.61818/56330464c28
Hoover, J.J., Gage, K.L. & Paulissen, M.S. (1988) Hellgrammite respiration - temperatureβs role in ectotherm physiology. The American Biology Teacher, 50, 39β42. https://doi.org/10.2307/4448631
Liu, X.-Y., Hayashi, F., Viraktamath, C.A. & Yang, D. (2012) Systematics and biogeography of the dobsonfly genus Nevromus Rambur (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae) from the Oriental realm. Systematic Entomology, 37, 657β669. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00635.x
Liu, X.-Y., Hayashi, F. & Yang, D. (2015) Phylogeny of the family Sialidae (Insecta: Megaloptera) inferred from morphological data, with implications for generic classification and historical biogeography. Cladistics, 31, 18β49. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12071
Martins, C.C. (2024) Corydalidae in CatΓ‘logo TaxonΓ΄mico da Fauna do Brasil. PNUD. Available from: http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/fauna/faunadobrasil/249 (accessed 5 May 2023)
Martins, C.C., Ardila-Camacho, A., Rivera-GasperΓn, S.L., Oswald, J.D., Liu, X. & Contreras-Ramos, A. (2022) A world checklist of extant and extinct species of Megaloptera (Insecta: Neuropterida). European journal of taxonomy, 812, 1β93. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.812.1727
McCafferty, W.P. & Provonsha, A.V. (1983) Aquatic Entomology: The Fishermanβs and Ecologistβs Illustrated Guide to Insects and Their Relatives. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Portola Valley, California, 448 pp.
Neunzig, H.H. & Baker, J.R. (1991) Order Megaloptera. In: Stehr, F.W. (Ed.) Immature Insects. Vol. 2. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa, pp. 112β122.
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Penny, N.D. (1982) Neuroptera of the Amazon Basin. Part 7. Corydalidae (1). Journal Acta Amazonica, 12, 825β837. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-43921982124825
Description: Dobson flies are recognized by their hyaline wings and their large mandibles that often serve as pinchers. These mandibles are smaller in females but can become quite large in some males Adults live near aquatic areas but may be attracted to lights at night. Larvae are aquatic and are commonly used as bait by fishermen.
Acanthus mollis, commonly known as bear's breeches, sea dock,[2] bear's foot plant, sea holly, gator plant or oyster plant,[3] is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae and is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a leafy, clump-forming perennial herb, with a rosette of relatively large, lobed or toothed leaves, and purplish and white flowers on an erect spike.
In the Computer System (comprises of Hardware and software), Hardware can only understand machine code (in the form of 0 and 1) which doesn't make any sense to a naive user.
We need a system which can act as an intermediary and manage all the processes and resources present in the system.
An Operating System can be defined as an interface between user and hardware. It is responsible for the execution of all the processes, Resource Allocation, CPU management, File Management and many other tasks.
The purpose of an operating system is to provide an environment in which a user can execute programs in convenient and efficient manner.
Exotic succulents for conservatories or very mild gardens. Plants produce a tall yellow pyramid of flowers. These perennial succulents can only be grown outside in the very mildest of gardens where there is danger of only slight frost and the soil is free draining. Otherwise they make excellent house or conservatory plants. If deprived of light (in winter, particularly), they loose some of their purple-ness and turn green in parts. The purple-ness returns with the return of the sun.
In their native country they sometimes seem to prefer shadier spots. They will tolerate a fair bit of our weaker British sunshine so if you have one growing inside ensure it still gets plenty of light, although not a very sunny windowsill. If grown in a pot make sure you don't over water (easily done) especially in winter and early spring before growth starts, otherwise rot quickly sets in and reduces roots to a mushy mess. However, if this does occur all is not lost. Take the remaining bits of healthy rosette or rosettes, remove the lower rotten section and place them in a seed tray filled with perlite - they should root out quite quickly. Aphids and slugs seem to be the most common pests but apart from that Aeoniums are pretty easy plants to grow and keep.
Propagated by us from cuttings.
A slow growing small tree with green leaves and a distinctive spreading habit followed by a domed shade in maturity. Bright red autumn colour. Can reach up to 30ft after 50 years.
Position: Best grown in well drained, moist, neutral to acid soil in light shade. Protect from cold and drying winds in early spring. 'By cuttings'
Plant these en masse for maximum impact. The flowers are more much numerous but much less tall (to 4ft max) than in the huge and better known Agapanthus africanus. Drifts of them work wonders. The clue's in the name - it's an enormous amount of blue. It's also hardier than Agapanthus africanus but dies down in the winter. Flowers for several weeks during mid-summer.
Best in sun in any reasonably well drained soil.
A comparative comment on Agapanthuses : The big one (Agapanthus africanus) and the little ones (Agapanthus 'Blue Storm' and 'Snow Storm') cannot really be compared. It's tempting because they're both Agapanthuses and they both have green strappy leaves and either blue or white flowers but the big one stands alone and are so big that they can be used almost like topiary - a pair in pots either side of an entrance for example. There's no reason why you couldn't do the same with the smaller ones but the smaller ones really lend themselves to being planted in drifts - blue or white rivers wending their way through the garden. The point is, one's not comparing like with like.
It is an upright and strong grower reaching 2 or 3m over 10 years.
Best grown with their feet in the shade and head in the sun, in well drained, moist, neutral to acid soil, protected from cold and drying winds. Prune lightly for health but never when the sap is rising in the spring. Propagated by cuttings/grafted.
Bright green, leafy perennial, fully hardy and evergreen in mild areas. Will grow to about 3-4ft tall and across. Easy plant to cultivate. Acanthus will grow in sun or shade. It'll flower more in the sun but the leaves will look bigger and darker and shinier in the shade. The tall spikes (6ft ish) of purple-hooded white flowers appear in high summer. The carved leafy bits so characteristic of the capitals on Corinthian columns are they. Not surprising really as Acanthus grows everywhere around Corinth and evidently did 2500 years ago too.
Removal of old flowers and leaves (anything unsightly) is a great help - especially in winter. Severe frost (-4Β°c or below) will give the leaves a look that could be described as both glazed and floppy. It can look terminal but it's not. They recover wonderfully well as soon as the temperature rises.
PLEASE NOTE : this plant is occasionally susceptible to powdery mildew, an endemic air-born fungus. It's easy to treat and we suggest the following action can be taken if you see the white powdery residue on the leaves. Remove as much of the affected parts as possible; clean up thoroughly and remove all rubbish from the area; spray with a general purpose ready to use systemic fungicide - one that contains myclobutanil - such as Fungus Fighter. Easy to cure. Alternatively, just remove ALL affected leaves and burn them.
This is the green leafed form of Dissectum. The plant weeps more than some of the other Japanese Maples. The leaves are deeply cut and delicate and emerge in spring pale green and remain like that all summer but the autumn is one of the finest of all the Maples - bright scarlet.
It's one of the classic slow growing Japanese Maples - 10ft after 20-25 years. Any reasonably well drained soil (but not chalk) but they need light or partial shade out of strong winds.
Because they're so slow growing, they're surprisingly happy in a pot but don't allow them to dry out. This can lead to the tips browning and full recovery probably won't happen until the following year.
The most enjoyable bit about growing these (apart from looking at them) is practising your gentle Creative Maintenance skills upon them. Creating a beautifully domed and balanced head, raising the crown (removing lower branches) to display the branch structure at the base and just snipping off dead bits. Great fun.
These plants are grafted so if you see an alien sprig appearing at the base, cut it off.
N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.
As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.
Fast growing little evergreen tree - the classic Mimosa with the ferny leaves. Masses of fragrant yellow flowers in spring. Requires full sun and reasonably well drained (but not chalky) soil. The flowers are yellow, fragrant and copious. They form in the autumn but don't come out until early spring, so don't prune after late summer if you want flowers the following spring. As with most trees, they're programmed to go straight up to find the light (whether they need to or not). On a young tree this can give the impression that they're destined to be tall and slender which they're not. Most Acacias reach a height of about 15-25ft and grow out. The eventual shape of a mature tree is quite squat and wide. Man appears to have dominion over most living things so you can always shin up a ladder and give it a haircut. It won't mind - just do it after flowering (April) unless you dislike the flowers in which case you can do it earlier. Left to their own devices, relatively short (25ft ish), quite broad and not dense. A marvellous tree for screening (they take your eye away without cutting all the light out) but unfortunately not reliably frost hardy except in large built up or coastal areas. If damaged in exceptionally cold winters, a well established tree will often re shoot from the base; a new lease of life.
In early March, you suddenly begin to realise how un-rare (I can't say common) these are. Clouds of yellow flowers all over the place but generally in areas whose phone number begins 0208 or 0207 or within 6 or 7 miles of the coast.
Propagated by us by seed.
N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.
As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.
There are not many of the South African Aloes that can be grown in Britain. This one is remarkably hardy. Some of it sprawls on the ground and some of it occasionally rears up to 3ft - or more if supported by a wall. Very cold weather will kill off the tips but it recovers. I've had it growing in my West Sussex frost pocket of a garden for many years. Yellow flowers that last for many weeks during the summer. Aloe vera is famous for its effect on burnt skin. You use the sap from a cut leaf to rub on the wound. Does this one have the same effect? Probably.
The Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) is a family of models used for predicting forest stand dynamics (tree growth, mortality, regeneration, management, disturbance, etc.) throughout the United States. The Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team supports a variety of insect and pathogen models that allow FVS users to incorporate forest pest disturbances into their FVS projections.
The family of FVS models comprises 20 different geographic variants, each calibrated to local conditions. Insect and disease models for FVS are developed and maintained in partnership with Forest Health Protection and the Forest Management Service Center. The models take one of two forms: (1) FVS model extensions, which are integrated into and interact directly with the base FVS model, or (2) keyword component (kcp) files, which contain FVS keywords instructing the base FVS model to perform specific calculations and activities (such as mortality) during a simulation. Availability of insect and disease models varies by FVS variant, as summarized below.
Image represents a stand of Douglas-fir in the Fremont National Forest as simulated with the South Central Oregon Northeastern California variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) and the Dwarf Mistletoe Model. View animation (Opens in new window/tab)
This is one of the main cultivar in my grove in 2011 my 7 year old trees produced close to 100 lbs per tree. It is a peculiar fruit. Once the fruit sets and temperatures begins to warm up and rain or irrigation is regular they grow very fast and it is the earliest commercial variety to go to market in Florida. On 2011 I had Donie fruit the first week of June. Average fruit size is 16-28 oz. If you leave then on the tree the fruit keeps getting bigger, they start dropping off in August. I have seen this variety also spelled "Doni" "Donie".
Harvest 2012: My 8 year old trees produced an average of 110 lbs per tree.
December 26, 2012. The trees seem to be building the coli-flowers to get ready to flower very soon. In the top of the trees you can see a few opening flowers. The trees look clean, green and so far no white fly or sign of sooty mold like I had last year.
January 19, 2013: The trees are blooming and there are a lot of open flowers.
March 20, 2013: Looks like it will be a good year, fruit is setting very well. As good as I ever seen it. Flowers may have another 10-14 days to go.
April 14, 2013: The Donnies are off and running. Probably due to a mild and strange winter they set and are holding a good amount of fruit. Lets see it its true. I predict 140-150 lbs per tree on the average this year, We'll know by the end of July.
June 22, 2013: Seems like my Donnies are headed for a record year. I do notice this year their flavor is better than prior years. So far I picked picked 110 lbs on the average per tree, may be I will not reach my prediction above.
August 1, 2013: I came in a bit off at 133 lbs per tree. A 20% increase over last year.
February 2, 2014: Some trees have open flowers, not a lot, seems to be behind last year.
February 12, 2014: Flowering seems to be going slow this year,
February 27, 2014: Donnies are two to three days away to full bloom. Beta's are ahead of Donnies. This is the first time I see this.
August 30, 2014: The Donnie season is over my trees produced and average of 200 lbs per tree. A very good and predictable early producer.
April 13, 2015: I have neglected to report on this variety. This year the late February cold snap, (I registered temperatures of 31 degrees in parts of my grove) cause all the fruit set to fall off along with flowers. The trees then set a second bloom that is just about finished. So this year there will be an light normal crop, with a not so large second crop. I have some fruit from the first set in the 3-4 oz range and some fruit the size of nickels and dimes. No ideal how is going to play out in production.
Check out the page from Tropical Research and Education http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/crane/avocado/donnie.shtml
The largest Quran in the world
Photo taken on May 1, 2019 7:59:14 PM
Wed, May 1, 2019ββ’β7:59 PM
LOCATION
Map of the location at which the photo was taken
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Estimated location
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The little girl is kissing the Quran.
Small baby Quran IMG Images Photos Pictures Pics
Photo taken on Apr 3, 2019 5:21:40 PM
Wed, Apr 3, 2019ββ’β5:21 PM
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Gorillas are the largest primates on Earth. Adult female gorillas tip the scales at 70-90 kg, whereas their male counterparts, standing tall at a whopping six feet, can weigh anywhere from 300 to 450 pounds. That's roughly equivalent to 135 to 200 kilograms!
The largest being the eastern gorillas, specifically the silverback males from the eastern lowland gorillas. These creatures can clock in at 400 pounds, equivalent to 180 kilograms, and stand tall at approximately 5.6 feet or 1.7 meters. These impressive creatures live in the forests of Central Africa.
Moose are the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. From the towering Alaskan moose of the North American wilderness to the more modestly-sized European moose, the eight moose sub-species illustrate these intriguing creatures' adaptability and ecological variety. They belong to the Cervidae family, including other members such as elk, caribou, and white-tailed deer.
With adult males weighing between 900 and 1,400 pounds, moose tower above their deer relatives. On the other hand, female moose weigh an average of 800 to 1,300 pounds. These majestic animals can also stand up to 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder.
Moose are not only known for their size but also their distinctive physical characteristics. They have elongated faces and an overhanging muzzle that extends beyond their upper lip. Furthermore, moose have relatively large and mobile ears that can rotate independently.
Adult male and female moose have a flap of skin, known as a bell or dewlap, hanging beneath their chin. The size of the bell increases with age and is more pronounced in dominant males. It serves as an additional visual display during the fall mating season and helps intimidate rival males.
The inner garden, or "naitei", sits at the southern end of the garden. While the garden was under Tokugawa possession, the naitei was a separate facility from the rest of the garden. This area was used as a private cram school during the Tokugawa days.
Lhotse (pronounced βlow-tseeβ) is found within the Himalayan Mountain Range, on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is connected to Mount Everest by a ridge. Both climbers of Lhotse and Everest follow the same initial route to Camp 3 before their paths diverge. Lhotse has three peaks, each of which presents its own challenges, known as Lhotse Main, Lhotse Middle, and Lhotse Shar. The first to reach the peak of Lhotse Main was a Swiss team led by Ernest Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger in 1956. They scaled the mountainβs West Face, which is now the mountainβs typical route.
Situated in the heart of the town and covering an area of about half a square mile this palace is a two-storied mansion having a mixed architecture with three domes, the central one being 86 feet high. The construction of this beautiful, well-balanced royal palace was undertaken in 1899 and completed in 1901 at a cost of a little over Rs 10 lakhs. The two large tanks on two sides with the approach road in between them and the well-laid out gardens around the palace with water courses and fountains patterned on the Mughal gardens have added beauty to it. The main block of the palace covers about 80 acres and contains halls like the Throne Room, the Durbar Hall, Library, Study, the Reception Hall, etc. which were furnished with objects of art, curios, chandeliers, etc. A few old manuscripts, books, artistic hand I crafts, musical instruments and some old armouries like (lie historical sword presented to Govinda Manikya by Sultan Suja were some of the many collections that were once on display in different rooms of the palace. A few more blocks, viz., Swet Mahal used as the guest-house, the Banquet Hall, Lal Mahal etc. were subsequently constructed. The palace has been acquired by the state government and now houses the Legislative Assembly, besides a few government offices. This is going to be made states national museum as per the agreement by ATTF, when Assembly hall would be shifted to new Assembly hall being constructed at new capital complex in Khejur bagan.
The Fort City, Vellore is at the banks of Palar river. the iconic Vellore Fort was built in the 16th century by the Vijaynagar kings. Tipu Sultanβs family was housed here during the British rule. Apart from the fort, there are many places to visit in Vellore.
Days needed to visit: 2 days.
Tourist Spots
Vellore Fort
Srilakshmi Golden Temple
Jalakandeswarar Temple
Vainu Bappu Observatory Yelagiri Delhi Gate (Vellore)
