Tuesday 7 July 2009

Pan leaves

The Sanskrit name for the climber is nagavalli. The word means snake-like vine. It is cultivated in many parts of India, and traditionally had great economic significance. It was a state monopoly under Prince Azim-us-Shan

(1697-1703) of Bengal (the grandson of Aurangzeb). Robert Clive continued the system after the East India Company took over...