Flora and Fauna
For flora of Sherani,one may find hundreds of species of some pretty exotic plants.The principal trees are(Ghaz in Pashto,Gazg in Balochi) tamarisk in English,also called Salt Cedar, pistachios, juniper(Obashta in Pashto),wild olive also mentioned in Quran as well as in old Testament,its Pashto name is Show-one,in Urdu & Arabic it is named as Zeethoon, pine nut, wild ash and wild almond.Also found amongst such flora are a wide range of shrubs like; spalmai(Pashto) Calotropis gigantea, Buska(Pashto)(Lepidium draba) Khamazorai(Pashto) (Withania coagulans); Maraghunai in Pashto,Bitter-apple in English,has the Latin name of Citrullus colocynthis,Pushai (Rheum emod), Shinshobae(Mentha sylvestris), makhai(Caragana),spawnday in Pashto and Harmal in English,its Latin name is (Peganum harmala),wild fig,(barberry),wild (cherry),and herbs like;Ephedra intermadia,(Pashto name is OMAN)are also found.
In addition to this Pinus gerardiana,which is called in Urdu Chilghoza pine, چلغوزا پائن).Its Urdu name is derived from the Persian name (چهل و غوزه) which means 40 nuts in one cone. It grows at an elevations from 1800 m to 3350 meters;are commonly found.
Aak in Urdu, Sodom’s Apple or Swallow-wort in English,Karagh in Balochi,Spelmai in Pashto; has the Latin name Calotropis procera, grow prolifically in Shinghar which is deadly poison if eaten, as Alexander the great(20/21 July 356 – 10/11 June 323 BC) discovered when his starving horses and cattle ate them on their long march back from the Indus through the Mekran. Even the juice rubbed on to a horse's hide will kill it. Yet a deer can eat the leaves without any ill-effect. Then it can go for months without needing other food or water even as long as two years If one gets its juice in eyes it causes instant blindness. Suicides have used it and it is an arbortifacient.It contains the toxic glycosides uscharin, Calotropis and calotoxin. Uscharin is an effective killer of land snails if they become pestilential. Skin from the root is used in decoctions for skin problems.It was a sacred plant in Vedic times as the leaves were used in sun-worshipping ceremonies.
Lofty mountains in the district are also the abode of indigenous but endangered species of wild goat called the Suleiman Markhor (Capra falconeri jerdoni) and wild sheep called Afghan Urial (Ovis orientalis cycloceros)Due to over hunting many species have migrated to other safe meadows.Wolves, Jackals, Rabbit, Wild cats,and Deer can be found in Sherani.
Of game birds, chikor,and sissy are found at high altitude, while sand grouse, (khirgutae) quail, partridge, Houbara bustard(Taloor or Charai) are met with, in the plains.Other are warblers,hikras, pigeon,golden eagle, sparrows, hawks, falcons, dove and bearded vultures.
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Famous quotes containing the words flora and/or fauna:
“A man’s interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The whole fauna of human fantasies, their marine vegetation, drifts and luxuriates in the dimly lit zones of human activity, as though plaiting thick tresses of darkness. Here, too, appear the lighthouses of the mind, with their outward resemblance to less pure symbols. The gateway to mystery swings open at the touch of human weakness and we have entered the realms of darkness. One false step, one slurred syllable together reveal a man’s thoughts.”
—Louis Aragon (1897–1982)