Description

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Context

Tiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu is emerging as a significant hub for the cultivation of Adenium obesum popularly known as Desert Rose.

Some plants fetch prices up to Rs 12 lakh attracting attention from horticulturists, entrepreneurs and policymakers.

Botanical and Geographical Profile

Feature	Description
Family	Apocynaceae that is Dogbane family
Native Regions	Arid zones of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
Biome	Desert or dry shrubland
Growth Habit	Succulent shrub, small tree like bonsai appearance
Flower Characteristics	Trumpet shaped, colorful (white to deep red), fragrant, attract pollinators
Special Traits	Drought tolerant, thick caudex for water storage, slow growing that is ~12" per year

Cultivation Practices

Step	Details
Seed Germination	Sun-dried seeds sown in *moist sand and powdered erukkam* leaves**
Shading	Germination under net shade, watered every two days
Hardening	After 2 months, seedlings exposed to sunlight to boost root growth
Leaf Trimming	Weekly to promote thick root development
Grafting	Done after 6 months to induce flowering
Classification	Based on age: 1 year, 2 year, 5 year old varieties
Fertilizer Use	No synthetic chemicals used; natural fertilizers like erukkam (Calotropis gigantea) and river sand used

Toxicity and Traditional Use

Poisonous Parts that is Roots and sap contain cardiac glycosides.

In Africa, sap used as arrow poison for hunting.

Environmental and Sustainable Aspects

Aspect	Notes
Low Water Requirement	Ideal for arid and semi-arid regions
No Chemical Pesticides	Promotes organic and sustainable cultivation
Biodiversity Value	Attracts bees and butterflies, enhancing local pollinator populations

Relevance

Horticulture Support Schemes: Encouragement through shade net subsidies, financial assistance.

Alignment with National Missions:

Doubling Farmers’ Income.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

Atmanirbhar Bharat that is promoting domestic, high value farming ventures.

Sources:

ETVBHARAT

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of the following statements regarding Adenium obesum is/are correct?

It belongs to the Apocynaceae family.
It is native to the arid regions of South America.
It is commonly used in bonsai cultivation.
It requires synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for optimum growth.

A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct – It belongs to the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family.

Statement 2 is incorrect – It is native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula not South America.

Statement 3 is correct – It is used in bonsai due to its miniature tree-like structure.

Statement 4 is incorrect – The cultivation in Tiruvallur uses natural fertilizers like erukkam leaves and avoids synthetic inputs.

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