In Kerala during primary school days we used to carry our
slates, slate pencils and twigs of a plant that was called ‘vedi pacha’ in
Malayalam. This plant was primarily to wipe the slate clean after writing, as
it was a juicy plant and provided enough moisture for the job.
The second use, from which its name came, was from the way
kids used to play with it. A portion of the branch with a knot on one side
would be separated, leaves removed and the portion except the knot twirled
between the fingers to remove the water from inside. Now it became like a tube
with the knot on the side to prevent escape of air. Air would be blown by mouth
into the tube through the open end, close the end with fingers and hit it on
the forehead, which would produce a ‘pop’ sound with the escape of trapped air,
which we kids used to enjoy. This sound is called ‘vedi’ in Malayalam. Once one
branch is made ready, it can be used to play for long time.
Moving away....
After marriage I moved out of Kerala, and used to miss
plants like coconut trees, vedi pacha
and some others. Once we settled down in Belgaum, we managed to have many of
those plants. But vedi pacha I used to miss. In 35 years of our stay in
Karnataka, I have never seen that plant anywhere in this state.
Imagine my surprise when I saw one plant coming up by itself
in one of the pots in our house. I kept searching for it in the areas around
our house, from where the seeds must have come. But none could be spotted. It
is beyond me to think how it could have come up.
Theories
I was contemplating various theories on the appearance of
the plant. One is that my intense longing for the plant helped to manifest the seed
in the pot and it germinated. Second is based on the eternal truth that five
elements can manifest and transform into any physical form. So seed of some other plant
must have morphed and germinated as this plant. Third assumption is that some
bird from Kerala must have come to our compound and the seed came from its
droppings and germinated.
Birds and animals do come to me for healing after I became a
Reiki channel. May be the seeds can also follow a Reiki channel?
August 2020
Only now I came to know that this plant is called Peperomia pellucida and it is an edible plant, having many medicinal uses in treatment of headache, abdominal pain, acne, boils, colic,
fatigue, gout, renal disorders, abscesses, and rheumatic joint pain. In the Philippines, it belongs to the 'preferred list' of medicinal plants, being studied for its use in the treatment of arthritis and gout.
The leaves are sometimes harvested from the wild and used as a food, medicine and tea. The plant is sometimes cultivated as a medicine and food crop in parts of the tropics, and is sold as a food and medicine in local markets. Leaves and young shoots are eaten in salads or used as a potherb. We now use it as salad.
This plant has a strong mustard-like odour and pulling it up can cause asthma-like symptoms.
References:
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Peperomia+pellucida
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