Polygala arillata Buch –Ham ex. D. Don ( Marcha Plant): An Indeterminate Plant toward the risk of Extinction

Parbakhar Poudel, Email:parbakhar@gmail.com

Abstract: Study of plants used in yeast cake (Marcha) was carried out in the Taplejung district of eastern Nepal. Persons directly involved in collection of plant, preparation of yeast cake and local wine; and businessmen related to these activities were taken as key informants. Detailed information related to plants, harvesting practices, market system, conservation status and culturing practices of yeast cake was collected by Participatory rural appraisal (PRA), Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) and direct observation methods and Rapid Vulnerability Assessment were carried for Marcha plant. Polygala arillata has been used as a compulsory and effective ingredient of marcha for fermentation considering the taste and intoxication capacity of alcoholic products. High score in Vulnerability assessment shows the threatened condition, which is due to its vulnerable, used parts, slow regeneration pattern, high demand, illegal trade, and unsustainable and unscientific harvesting practices. Key words: Mongolian society, yeast cake, harvesting, vulnerability. Introduction

Alcoholic fermentation by fungi is the universal basis of brewing and baking industry based on the fact the fermentation of sugar solution by yeast produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. Alcoholic beverages have played an important role in human cultural life both in eastern and western societies. Marcha (yeast cake) is locally made and widely used fermentation starter in rural indigenous communities of Nepal. Home made alcoholic products (Jaand, Roxi, Bhatti, Chhyang etc.) have great cultural and religious value in the indigenous Matwali(who take alcoholic products ) society of Nepal. Locally prepared Marcha is the molded form of raw cereals (whole grain, grits or flour) and certain plants powder with different microorganisms in the form of a cake or ball. The microorganisms in yeast cake include Hensenula anomala, Mucor fragilis, Rhizopus., Saccharomyces spp, etc.(Tamang et.al 1996). People of eastern Nepal have been using a number of medicinal plants as a compulsory ingredient of Marcha during moulding (Poudel, 2007). They use plant powder of more than two specific plants, believing that these enhance the quality of the alcoholic products in taste and intoxication capacity (Poudel , 2007). Marcha plant (Polygala arillata ), a member of Polygalaceae, has been found widely used and a compulsory ingredient of Marcha. The distribution of plant in certain altitudinal range, use of vulnerable parts, pattern of selection, unsustainable and unscientific harvesting practice etc drew the attention of researcher to carry out this study in order to asses the vulnerability of this plant

About Plant Family: Polygalaceae Genus: Polygala Species: arillata Buch-Ham. Ex D. Don. Common Name: Red eye or Yellow Milkwort Nepali Name: Marcha Plant Limbu Name: Khesang Taii, Neselekma Rai Name : Wathangma Flowering Time: June – September Fruitint time: July- November Ecology : Understorey shrub( 120- 240 cm) Altitudinal Range: 1500-2700 m asl Distribution: Himalaya, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar. The only species of shrubby polygala is found in Nepal with large flower.

Study Area This study was carried out in Taplejung, the mountainous district of eastern Nepal. The area of Taplejung is 3646 sq km and about 19.5 % area falls under temperate zone (2000-3000 msl), which is considered as suitable habitat for Marcha plant. Materials and Methods Assessment of the vulnerability of to harvesting of Polugala arillata use by indigenous community of Taplejung district was conducted by adapting the method of Rapid Vulnerability Assessment (Cunningham, 1996 and formalized by Wild and Mutebi, 1996). The scoring proceeds as follows (after Messerschmitt et al 2001).Potential threats are ranked categorically by placing a check mark in the appropriate column (Scoring: 0 for no vulnerability, 1 for low vulnerability, 2 for moderate vulnerability, and 3 for high vulnerability).The scoring number of each respective column was added and final score was made. Score 0 to 15 implies low vulnerability; no cause for alarm.Score 16 to 30 implies moderate vulnerability; the species can withstand collection pressure. Score over 31 implies high vulnerability, high probability of population decline if sustainable use rules not implemented. The field survey was carried out two times in 2006 in the monsoon and post monsoon season and systematic client consultation was made( In the direction of, Drunkard- Innkeepers -Marcha Seller-Marcha Maker-Marcha Plant collector ). The time was arranged just before the festival Dashain and Tihar when alcoholic products are prepared in large quantity in each family, which can be relate the activities of Marcha preparation. Rapport with key informants was made following the guidelines given by Jackson and Ingles (1997). Money was also paid to key informants to break their reluctance to share the information. The data for RVA were collected from literature, herbaria, local experts, team observation and market survey through PRA and RRA. Due to the limited literature and information available on this plant in different aspects present study attempts to assess its vulnerability through primary and field based information. This aims to measure the increased risk of extinction as a result of unsustainable and unscientific harvesting practices or others perturbations. Results and Discussion The RVA for Marcha plant are:

i. Life Form: Slow growing, long-lived, slow reproducing plant species are more vulnerable to over-exploitation than fast growing, short-lived, fast reproducing ephemerals.

Assessment: Marcha plant is slow growing, long lived shrub. Rank: High vulnerability

ii. Habitat Specificity: Species with very narrow habitat requirements are likely to be

rarer and more vulnerable.

Assessment: Marcha plants reported growing between 1500 to 2700 msl. It has a specific altitude band but wide enough.

Rank: Moderate vulnerability

iii. Abundance and Distribution: Abundant widely distributed species are less vulnerable to overuse.

Assessment: Widely distributed species. Rank: Low vulnerability

iv. Growth Rate: Slower growing species will be more vulnerable to use.

Assessment: Slow growing shrub. Rank: High vulnerability

v. Response to Harvesting: The ability of a species to re-grow or increase its growth

rate as a response to harvesting affects its vulnerability.

Assessment: Chance of regeneration on harvesting place is very rare Rank: High vulnerability

vi. Parts Used: The part used significantly affects sustainability e.g. use of leaves has

the least impact on the plant, than twigs, branches, bark, stems and lastly the whole plant. Assessment: Root bark Rank: High vulnerability

vii. Pattern of Selection and Use: If a certain size, age or quality of a plant is used, the

remaining population may ensure the survival of species.

Assessment: No certain size or age for harvesting Rank: High vulnerability

viii. Demand: The level of demand has a major impact on the plant. Demand is made up

of two factors – the quantity harvested and the frequency of harvest.

Assessment: High demand on local market Rank: High vulnerability

ix. Seasonal Harvesting: Demand may be reduced if harvesting is restricted to seasons.

Assessment: No seasonal restriction Rank: High vulnerability

x. Traditional Conservation Practices: Many cultures have developed practices to

control use. When demand increases, especially if the resource becomes commercially exploited, these traditional practices often break down.

Assessment: Neither law to protect, nor any conservation actions have been practiced

Rank: High vulnerability xi. Commercialization: Once a product moves from subsistence use to

commercialization, the chances of unsustainable use increases.

Assessment: Still in subsistence use but have been taking a good space in local market and outside Rank: Moderate vulnerability

xii. Substitutes: The availability of substitutes affects species’ vulnerability indirectly by

reducing demand.

Assessment: No information about active chemical compounds but some plants have been used as substitute for marcha.. Rank: Moderate vulnerability

Poudel (2007) incorporates one additional factors to the above list i.e. Collectors specificity

xiii. Collectors Specificity: Collectors of all caste increase the chance of exploitation.

Assessment: Marcha plant is collects only by Indigenous Mongolian people . Rank: Moderate vulnerability

Table 1: Rapid Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) Checklist for Polygala Factor Remark Nil

(0) Low (1)

Moderate (2)

High (3)

1. Life Form Shrub √ 2. Habitat Specificity 1500-2700 msl √ 3. Abundance and Distribution Widely distributed √ 4. Growth Rate Slow growing √ 5. Response to Harvesting

Regeneration probability very less

√

6. Parts Used Root bark √ 7. Pattern of Selection and Use

No certain age and size √

8. Demand High √ 9. Seasonal Harvesting No seasonal restriction √ 10. Traditional Conservation practices

No traditional management

√

11. Commercialization Subsistence use √ 12. Substitutes Yes but prefer it √ 13. Collectors Specificity Mongolian people only √

Sub-Totals 0 1 8 24 Grand-Total 33

The score of vulnerability was 33 indicating high vulnerability. High vulnerability implies the high decline of population if rules of sustainable uses not implemented. There are some options to bring the plant in moderately vulnerable state. The active compounds, which make the quality alcoholic products, are still unidentified. Other parts also may serve the same function. There is no any scientific fact about the utilization of root bark only; other parts of plants might perform the same functions. Another thing to reduce the vulnerability is to make the harvesting system sustainable. Present harvesting system is unsustainable because there is no chance of regeneration on the same place once plant is uprooted to collect its bark. The market system is also in an unmanaged form and which has brought the unhealthy competition to collect the plants .Now the plants bark is exported to other the countries illegally. Identification and separation of effective chemical compounds as specific ingredients for fermentation starter to

produce the quality alcoholic products regarding its taste and intoxication capacity, may lead a revolution in distillery and commercialization of this plant. Acknowledge Author is thankful to all key informants who provided me valuable information in this research crossing their traditional boundaries of secrecy and reluctances. References Cuningham A.B. (1996). People, Park and Plant Use Recommendation for multiple –use

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