Yesterday while I was coming from Delhi to Calicut by flight along with my wife, I had an interesting dicussion with one of my fellow-travellers. He was sitting next to me. He was going to Coimbatore. He introduced himself as an R and D employee in the Forest department.I was interested and asked him about the trees and plants on which he is doing the work. I could get a lot of new and interesting information.
For example many trees live up to hundreds or thousands of years. The Red Sandalwood (Raktha chandana) is one of the long living trees, may be thousands of years. Teak wood and Rose Wood also live hundreds of years. The Chinar mainly seen in the Kasmir valley is another such long living tree. These are all valuable and protected trees. They can not be cut without the permission of the Government. But what takes place is another matter. These trees are not allowed to have their full life. Thousands of these protected trees are cut and exported by mafia groups, some times with the support of the authorities. (In this connection remember the report in the press about the consfiscation of loads of Rosewood while being exported to foreign countries in some other name). He mentioned that the trees, plants etc. are called by many names in many places. But their scientific names are the same all over the world.
These longliving trees might have seen generations of men during their long lives. Very interesting indeed. I thank my fellow traveller for these information.