Cypress Vine Winner KBG-26

Tiny red flower like a trumpet.
Five pointed petals.
Yes, that's Cypress Vine also known as morning glory, cardinal creeper, cardinal vine, star glory or hummingbird vine. In southern India, it is called mayir manikkam in Tamil: மயில் மாணிக்கம். As Kausalya Govindan explained "Mayir means hair and manickam is ruby. So the name is based on the appearance of leaves and colour of flowers".
In Malayalam, it is called ākāśamulla. In Assamese it is known as Kunjalata (কুঞ্জলতা), while in the Marathi language it is known as Ganesh Vel. Thanks Parag Sharma, Shekhar Sawant and Nilima Paroolkar for your inputs. It's scientific name is Ipomoea quamoclit.

It is native from northern South America north to Mexico. It has also naturalised to regions like India. It is annual or perennial vine. It flowers during August to December in temperate climates. We reproduce the Contest pictures taken in our garden in Secunderabad India. The flower comes in three colours red, pink and white. However, our garden has only the red coloured flowers.

Seedlings must always be kept moist. They require full Sun for good growth. This vine is one of the best plants for attracting hummingbirds, and is a vigorous grower. It doesn't require any fertilizer and gives blooms without much care. Readers may refer Wikipedia for more details.

We thank all the readers who sent their responses. Despite a month's gap, KBG-26 saw enthusiastic participation with more than 200 responses out of which we had 20 correct entries. Quite a few entries came from US time zone as well. Special thanks to them. The first correct answer came within a few seconds!
The Winners of KBG-26 are as follows:

1. Narender Soni, MSc (Bio Sciences), works with Ministry of Finance, Govt of India. Lives in Gurgaon.
2. Aayushi Kasliwal, MBA(Fin), Entrepreneur, Indore
3. Praneetha Mudholkar, MBA, Faculty@VVISM Hyderabad and keen traveller

Our congratulations to all of them.

Our special thanks to Dr Chitra Shanker for her continued research guidance.

Stay connected for the next edition of KBG-27.

Thanks for browsing

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad

We also thank Ramya Sriram for logo design.

#kbg #kaunbanegaghumakkad #contest26 #onlinecontest #travellers #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #knowyourenvironment #wanderers #photowalks #learningfromnature #plants #environment #nature #wildflowers #vine #powerofobservation #learningfromplants #funwatchingflowers

Seen this Vine? KBG-26

KBG- your favourite Kaun Banega Ghumakkad is back!
After a month's gap, KBG-26 is here.

You must have seen this vine! Just name it.

Two more pictures to give you clues.

You may crib that the picture of the flowers is not clear. But it is on purpose. Otherwise, Google will give you the answer!

As in the past, first three winners will be announced in the next post. So, whatever be your channel- this blog, FB, mail, Insta, WA or Twitter, send your response fast.

Happy hunting!

   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 6th October 2019
#kbg #kaunbanegaghumakkad #contest26 #onlinecontest #travellers #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #knowyourenvironment #wanderers #photowalks #learningfromnature #plants #environment #nature #wildflowers #vine #powerofobservation #learningfromplants #funwatchingflowers

Common Wild Flower? KBG-16

Scorching heat!
We humans look for shade.
But this wild flower sprouts from nowhere!
Grows in plenty. Singly or in bunches.
It wants more heat, more sunlight.
It sustains the heat.
Which is this flower?
You could win the KBG-16 Contest! Your favourite Kaun Banega Ghumakkad.

Here are two more clues.

Just one final hint: The flower is native to Central America but has naturalised itself to India as well. So, folks in USA you can't say that KBG Contest is India-focussed! Come on, shoot your response now!

Happy hunting!

    -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 3rd May 2019

Special thanks to Dr Chitra Shanker for research support and Ramya Sriram www.thetap.in for KBG logo design.

#KBG #kaunbanegaghumakkad #Contest16 #wildflowers #nature #summer #funwithnature #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #flowersofamerica 

Seeds of Golden Trumpet: KBG-15 Winners

Which tree was it in KBG-15?
Where is it grown?
Where did you find the seeds?
Who won the contest KBG-15?

The answer to Contest No. 15 of Kaun Banega Ghumakkad (KBG) कौन बनेगा घुमक्कड़ is here!
It was the Golden Trumpet tree. Scientific name being Tabebuia Aurea or Tabebuia Argentea.

It is grown in India, South America and many other regions. Other answers given by on-line contestants were Silk Cotton, Alsomitra Macrocarpa, Semal, Albizia, Meranti, Shorea, Saal, Teak, and Mulbery.

Why this name? Because it gives golden flowers around Holi होली in India (generally in March) which are in the shape of trumpets. During the flowering season which lasts for about two weeks, the tree sheds all its leaves. And then its a riot of golden colour seen from a distance. See the picture below.

Where did I find the seeds? 
Ghumakkad found the seeds on 18th fairway of a golf course in Secunderabad India. The same place where the above picture was taken. The fairway was littered with thousands of seeds with white 'feathery' wings which caught my eye. You may like to browse the story 'Why I Love Golfing?' for more pictures.

Similar Looking Seeds
Many readers got confused with Alsomitra macrocarpa which grows widely in Indonesia and many other regions of the world. But these readers did not see our 2nd clue which showed the tree and a bean shedding the seeds. In comparison, Alsomitra fruit is football sized.

The Winners
Once again, the contest was keenly fought on-line with more than 300 contestants. The first correct answer came in less than 5 minutes! However, we received only two correct answers. Therefore, there is no third winner unlike previous contests. We congratulate the winners who come from different backgrounds and professions.

1. Wing Commander Yella Prakash Rao (Retd), Helicopter Pilot, Bird Watcher and Golfer
2. Prof Praneetha Mudholkar, Marketing and Soft Skills Faculty and Nature Lover

Once again, we thank all the readers for their active support in keeping the KBG Contest going! Our aim of generating awareness about the Environment, Nature and Heritage through this contest has been appreciated by many readers. In some way KBG Contest is like a seed we have sown in each one of you. Recalling RL Stevenson's line “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

Thanks are due to Dr Chitra Shanker without whose expert guidance we would have made no headway.

KBG-16 will arrive soon. But before that Ghumakkad will take you to North East India to continue where we had left.

Stay connected

  - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Dr Chitra Shanker/ 29th April 2019

#kbg #kaunbanegaghumakkad #contest15 #goldentrumpet #trees #seeds #nature #funwithnature #tabebuiaaurea #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb

Seeds to Flowers KBG-15

"Which Seed?"

"How do I know, I am not a botanist!"

But surely you love mother Nature, trees and gardens.

In the month of April most flowering trees shed their beans containing the seeds. Most gardens and in some cases even the foot paths- are splattered with seeds. Courtesy strong winds, the seeds can be found far away from the tree.

15th edition of KBG Kaun Banega Ghumaakd is here.

Identify the seed- which flower or tree? And you could be the winner!

More clues follow.

 The final clue!

Thanks are due to Dr Chitra Shanker for the idea and Ms Ramya Sriram for the Contest logo.

We close with RL Stevenson's famous words “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

Happy hunting!

  -Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 25th April 2019

#kbg #kaunbanegaghumakkad #trees #seeds #flowers #nature #rlstevenson #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #contest15 #kbg15