KHAILA TSINANG, PENTSADI, SENGPASHING (Illicium griffithii) OF AJA, MONGAR

 Introduction

Illicium griffthii Hook. F. & Thomson. (Bhutan Flora, 1984). Dorji, (1995) has referred to this specie as Illicium anisatum synonym for Illicium verum according to the encyclopedia of species) of Aja which has often been misunderstood for star anise (Illicium verum) is one species of plant that can be found in abundance right from a place called Shingdohgor on the way to Aja from Yarab in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary's Serzhong Park Range.

Resembling the Magnoliaceae family of plants, this species is confined to the Aja valley and the adjoining Yangla hills in Serzhong Park Range about three hour walk above Yarab village.

Locally known as Sengpasey this not-so-large growing tree (Figures 1 and 2) is evergreen in nature and is known to give farmers of the locality cash income in the past.

Figure 1. A flowering Pentsadi from Aja (Photo: Author)

Figure 2. Illicium griffithii in its natural habitat at Aja Nimathang. It was grown after the first tree was cut at the base and bore lots of flowers.

Morphometry

The biggest plant of this species measured in Aja was 4'9" gbh growing to a height of about 24 meters (tip of the crown) (Wangyal, J. T., Wangdi, K. and Mukhia, P. B.  in April 2005).

Elevation 

The plant has been found from 1333 m MSL (Shingdohgor) and 1550 (Yangla) to about 3000m MSL (Kuenzangling) in Serzhong Park Range. This plant branches profusely in the openings and is not so straight in the shades. Bears more flowers and fruits as short plant and is a good coppice-r. Experience in Aja found that the tree gives more fruits in the open than the ones in the forest with other species.

Figure 3. This is the picture of a full-grown tree at the base of Aja Pema Yangdzong people take care of these trees more than other species since they fetch them some cash.

These trees are found in maximum density on the southern aspects growing well in the sandy loam soil substrate in gentle to slightly steep slopes (Aja experience). They are glabrous and evergreen in nature.

The Root

The root system of this plant is tap and they don't branch much.

The bud

The flower bud grows at the axils of the leaf base with the sepals covering the whole system of the flower at the bud stage. The picture below shows the buds at the leaf bases as they are found growing in nature.

Figure 4. Picture showing the flower buds growing at the base of the node from where leaves grow. The buds of Pentsadi trees appear normal like that of any species but are unusually thick

The leaf

The leaves of the specie with reticulate venation look glabrous. The leaf phyllotaxy is alternate. The length of the petiole is about 3 - 4cm. Describe leaf apex, base, venation, phyllotaxy, stink, etc. The dorsal part and the ventral part etc. about the leaf.

Figure 5a. The ventral part of the leaf

Figure 5b. The dorsal part of the leaf

The stem, bark, and the branches

Figure 6. Image of stem, bark, and branches

The flower

Figure 7a. Flower

Figure 7b. Flower

Figure 7c. Flower

The fruit

Figure 8a. Fruiting flower

Figure 8b. Fruit

Figure 8c. Fruiting in action

The seeds

Figure 9. The seeds

The habitats

Figure 10a. The habitat of Sengpasey

Figure 10b. Aja valley where the mind may not want to move, once you are there.

Noto bene

This piece of writing on Pentsadi has been put in my blog to recall what I used to practically do as Range Officer of Serzhong Range under Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary between 2004 and 2007. I have just copied my report of the 2006 trip and has been put here unaltered. Well, I remember I enjoyed a lot walking to Aja whenever I liked to even when I had no official orders to travel. I hope Numo Tadhongma at Phunyingla is looking after me for my successful life.