Betel
Local Name: Paan
Plant which I have chosen as a
part of my project is Betel.
The Betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava. It is valued both
as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. Betel leaf is mostly
consumed in Asia and elsewhere in the world by some Asian emigrants, as betel
quid or paan, with or without
tobacco, in an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-inducing formulation
with adverse health effects.
Here
are some benefits of betel leaves that are good for health
·
Helps
relieve coughing.
·
Eliminating
bad breath.
·
Prevent
damage to the teeth.
·
Treating
a nosebleed.
·
Cure
bronchitis.
·
Accelerating
penyambuhan burns.
·
Treat
ulcers.
·
Relieves
itching and red eyes due to irritation.
·
Stopping
the bleeding gums.
·
Treat
thrush.
·
Treating
acne and eliminate acne
There also some Bollywood songs are
composed on Paan; some of them are:
o
Khaike Paan Banaras wala from the movie Don
o
Paan khaye saiyya hamaro from the movie Teesari Kasam
My
plant story:
We have Betel plant at my home
town it is a 1 year old plant. I have taken a small part of it to grow it up
with me in Pune as a part of project. When I brought it; that time it was
having only one leaf and the length of overall plant it was 15-20 cm.
First
2 weeks: I plant that creeper into a pot
after 3 days (from the day when I bought it from my home; I kept it in a
polythene bag with black soil and some amount of water in it.). I used red soil
for my plant. 2 days after planting Betel creeper,
it was looks like this
creeper is going to die. Because there is no leaf is left with the creeper. Up
to next two weeks I was dying to save my small Betel creeper; up to second week
this creeper became part of my life. I use to sit near my plant for nearly half
an hour, once I tried to talk with my plant but I found myself like crazy but
then I stopped it and I put my plant with other plants which I have at our flat.
For first one week I was watering my plant for two times but after some
suggestions I started watering my plant once in day (Because, my plant was very
small like that time).
Once I have cut a just small tip
of betel creeper (because it got dried) and a throw that small part but then
after suddenly a got a beautiful smell of my hand then I came to know that my
Betel creeper have a beautiful and strong flavor of Betel. And this gives
identity to my plant that it is a good quality plant.
Week
3: finally I have seen some green
color thing in the pot in which betel has been planted. It was a Sunday and
literally I have taken 1 hour to take it perfect picture. My flat-mates was
telling me that Vishakha it’s not your baby it just a plant, but how can they
know my feelings for me it was a happiest moment. Finally I capture perfect
picture of my plant.
For next 2 week it was growing
alone but then another leaf has come out. The first leaf was not in its perfect
shape but the new one was in perfect shape of a leaf.
Week 5: I went back to my home town for one week in those days Payal and Aditi was taking care of my plant and when I came back first I went to saw my plant and there were 3 leafs my plant was having.
Week 7: First leaf of my plant is got dried and now only two leafs are remain. But after two days a new leaf has came out now again my betel creeper have 3 leafs. My friend called my plant as “Teen Patti” because it always has 3 leafs all time.
21st April: out of that three leafs now again 2 are remaining but on 22nd of April a new leaf is started coming out.
Length of my betel leafs is maximum 5 cm. It is not growing above that length. I don’t know why this is happening; because the plant which we have at my home town is having good length.
I think; my betel creeper has planted in small pot and that’s why it is not growing fast as compared with the creeper at my home which is planted on open land.
