Floriculture in ANCIENT INDIA !

The divine character of the trees has been depicted in a number of seals, sealing potteries, potsherds and some rock paintings as archeological evidence of the Mohen-jo-Daro and Harappa period (3500–1750 B.C.). A few trees such as pipal or asvatta (Ficus reliegiosa), neem (Azadirachta indica), katha or Khadira (Acacia catechu) and jhand or Sami (Prosopis cineraria) were held sacred by the ancient people of the Indus Valley.

• Plants were also featured in personal adornment and beautification of the home. Girls wore flower to Champaka (Michelia champaca) and jasmine in their hair and those of Siris (Albizzia labbek) in their ears.

• Poet Kalidasa has made frequent references to these in his writings. In his Ritusamhara, Kalidasa gave charming descriptions of indigenous beautiful trees of India with flowers in different months.

• Among the trees, one of the most beautiful was the red flowered Saraca indica popularly known as Asoka. It was said that Sita was confined by Ravana in a grove of Asoka trees. Another favorite tree of those days was Kadama (Anthocephalus cadamba)and its flower appears in golden balls. It was closely associated with the life of Lord Sri Krishna.

• Description of flowers and gardens had been presented in ancient Sanskrit classics like Rig Veda (3000–2000 B.C.), Ramayana (1200–1000 B.C.) and Mahabharata (500 B.C.). Other Sanskrit books of early days written by Shudraka (100 B.C.), Asvaghosha (100 A.D.) and Sarnghara (1283–1301 A.D.) also mentioned about flowers and gardens.

• Among the flowers the sacred lotus (Nelumbo mucifera) was the most important and numerous references to it occur in Sanskrit literature.

• The art of gardening and kinds of gardens were described by Sarangdhara (1300 A.D.) and Vatsyayana (300–400 A.D.) respectively. Vatsyayana (A.D. 300–400) has also rendered interesting accounts of four kinds of gardens namely pramadodyam, udyan, vrishavatika and nandanvana.

• The science of plant life. (Vrikshayurveda) on arbori-horticulture and usefulness of trees and gardens were well-known in ancient India.

• During the Buddhist period gardens were laid out around the monasteries and stupas and there were beautiful gardens in Nalanda the Taxila.

• The planting of roadside avenue trees (margeshuvriksha) was an important contribution of the king Asoka (233 B.C.). He was the first king in Indian History who encouraged Arboriculture and adopted it as a state policy.

• Concept of identifying trees with gods and goddesses and threats and punishments against the destruction of useful trees helped to save the trees and flora which is a remarkable contribution of our ancient people.

• The Indians have a high opinion of betel, and if a man visits a friend and the latter gives him five leaves of it, you will think he had given him they would, especially if he is a prince or notable. A gift of betel is a far greater honor than a gift of gold and silver.

Timeline of Floriculture in history of INDIA:

1. Babur mentioned in the Baburinama some indigenous ornamental trees like hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasinensis), oleander (Nerium indicum), Keora (Pandanus odoratissimum) and white jasmine. He is credited with the introduction of scented Persian rose in India. Babur (1483–1530), the Mughal emperor had established gardens in Persia and India.

• The most important Mughal gardens are the Taj Mahal Garden Agra (1654 A.D.); Shalimar and Nishat Gardens, Srinagar, Pinjore Gardens, Pinjore and the Garden at Humayun’s tomb, Delhi the rose was introduced into our country via the port of Bussorah by Babur in around 1526.

• The most important plants the famous Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar were the majestic China tree (Platans orientails), the Cyprus (Cupresus sempervirens) and the weeping willow (Salix babylonica) and flowers like rose narcissus daffodil, iris, lilies tulip and carnation.

• The Arabs specialized in the culture of data-palm. According to Swindle, the data-palm produces more well mineralized, highly flavored and nutritious human food per acre than any other temperate zone crop.

• . Plants named in his text include lemon and orange trees, pines and most of our common deciduous trees, cypresses, oleander, myrtle and rose as the only flowering shrubs, violets, lavender, balm, mint, thyme, marjoram, iris, mallow, box and bay laurel. He lays much stress on aromatics, as, indeed, did all the Islamic gardeners. His climbing plants are vines, jasmines and ivy. The mahua (Madhuca indica) tree bears fruit twice a year and from its kernels they make oil, which they use for lamps.

2.. Portuguese introduced Agave americana and Allamanda cathartica, which have now been naturalized throughout India. Several botanical gardens were established during 18th and 19th centuries in various parts of India, where indigenous and exotic plants were introduced and maintained.

• Portuguese control the spice trade in the Indian Ocean during 1497 A.D. The term ‘herbal’ was put in use in 1516 as per the Oxford English Dictionary. Robert Fortune (1852) sent tea plants from China to Indian Himalayas.

3.One of the important missionaries who introduced a number of exotic plants was Dr. Firminger, an Englishman who wrote a book on gardening giving descriptions of various species of flowers in 1863. The book entitled “Firminger’s manual of Gardening in India is an authoritative reference book on ornamental flowering plants even today.

4.Joseph Hooker brings 65,000 species of plants from India to Kew NBG in 1851.The Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore introduced flower seeds from the Royal Botanical Garden Kew (England) in 1864.

• Establishment of Government Botanic Gardens by the British rulers during 18th and 19th centuries such as Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore (1760); the Government Botanic Garden, Saharanpur (1779); the Indian Botanic Garden, Sipbur Calcutta (1783); the Lloyd Botanic Garden, Darjeeling (1878) and the Government Botanic Garden, Ooty (1884), numerous economic plants as well as ornamentals were introduced in these gardens.

BY KHAS.