By Akshay SurendraSinharaja Biosphere Reserve, south-west Sri LankaMay 2021 Shorea trapezifolia (Dipterocarpaceae, section Doona) is an endemic canopy tree that forms gregarious stands in valleys and lower slopes of hill dipterocarp rainforests in Sri Lanka. Shorea trapezifolia belongs to the “Tiniya-dun” group of Shorea species, all of whom are soft wooded, highly resinous (“dun” = … Continue reading A quiet super bloom of Shorea trapezifolia
“Hatu Pola”-Mushroom market
By Asha Bertsch May is mushroom hunting season. Every day now, I run into folks wearing mischievous smirks stretched across their faces, some carrying sacks as big as themselves filled with the foraged goods. "Hatu pola! Hatu pola!" they ecstatically shout (literally translating to "mushroom market"), when I ask where and what they've been up to. It's … Continue reading “Hatu Pola”-Mushroom market
We’re Okay
By Asha Bertsch I thought I'd send an update just to say everything's ok here in Pitakele. Social media is on a hiatus and schools are closed for 2 weeks but aside from this, the village rolls on as usual. Rest assured we are safe, calm and content. Though none of this is particularly related to … Continue reading We’re Okay
“Eta! Beeja Gedhi!
By Asha Bertsch For those who have followed the blogs from past years, you know that Pitakele residents are not subsistence farmers who dedicate great amounts of energy to cultivating fruits and vegetables. Most residents put their time and focus into a single cash crop - tea. You can tell when someone is on their … Continue reading “Eta! Beeja Gedhi!
“Kalu pas” or “black soil”
By Asha Bertsch The newly pig-proofed area is beginning to take on a cultivated appearance! The larapa (Gliricidia sepium) have sprouted, newly planted marigolds are beginning to bloom, the transplanted banana trees seem to be adapting to the change in location, and the passion fruit and damballa (winged bean) vines are taking off (Fig. 1a,b). … Continue reading “Kalu pas” or “black soil”
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