Mint

Mentha (also known as Mint, from Greek mntha, Linear B mi-ta) is a genus of plants in [3] the family Lamiaceae (mint family). The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the [4] number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally. Many otherhybrids as well as numerous cultivars are known in cultivation. The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and North [5] America. Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial, rarely annual, herbs. They have wide-spreading [6] [7] underground and overground stolons and erect, square, branched stems. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, from oblong to lanceolate, often downy, and with a serrate margin. Leaf colors [5] range from dark green and gray-green to purple, blue, and sometimes pale yellow. The flowers are white to purple and produced in false whorls called verticillasters. The corolla is two-lipped with four subequal lobes, the upper lobe usually the largest. The fruit is a nutlet, containing one to four seeds. While the species that make up the Mentha genus are widely distributed and can be found in many environments, most Mentha grow best in wet environments and moist soils. Mints will grow 10 120 cm tall and can spread over an indeterminate area. Due to their tendency to spread unchecked, mints are considered invasive. All mints prefer, and thrive near pools of water,lakes,rivers,cool, moist spots in partial shade. general, mints tolerate a wide range of conditions, and can also be grown in full sun.
[11] [1] [2]

In

They are fast growing, extending their reach along surfaces through a network of runners. Due to their speedy growth, one plant of each desired mint, along with a little care, will provide more than enough mint for home use. Some mint species are more invasive than others. Even with the less invasive mints, care should be taken when mixing any mint with any other plants, lest the mint take over. To control mints in an open environment, mints should be planted in deep, bottomless containers sunk in [11] the ground, or planted above ground in tubs and barrels. Some mints can be propagated by seed. Growth from seed can be an unreliable method for raising mint for two reasons: mint seeds are highly variable - one might not end up with what one [11] presupposed was planted; and some mint varieties are sterile. It is more effective to take and plant cuttings from the runners of healthy mints. The most common and popular mints for cultivation are peppermint (Mentha piperita), spearmint (Mentha spicata), and (more recently) apple mint(Mentha suaveolens). Mints are supposed to make good companion plants, repelling pest insects and attracting beneficial ones. Mints are susceptible to whitefly and aphids. Harvesting of mint leaves can be done at any time. Fresh mint leaves should be used immediately or stored up to a couple of days in plastic bags within a refrigerator. Optionally, mint can be frozen in ice cube trays. Dried mint leaves should be stored in an airtight container placed in a cool, dark, dry area

Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a succulent plant species that is found only in cultivation, having no naturally occurring [1] populations, although closely related aloesdo occur in northern Africa. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine since the beginning of the first century AD. Extracts from A. vera are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative medicine industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating, healing, or soothing properties. There is, however, little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of Aloe vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes, and what positive evidence is available is frequently contradicted by other studies Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60100 cm (2439 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties [6] showing white flecks on their upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf isserrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, each [6][7] flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 23 cm (0.81.2 in) long. Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better [8] access to mineral nutrients in soil. Aloe vera leaves contain phytochemicals under study for possible bioactivity, such as acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, anthrones, anthraquinones, such as emodin, and various lectins The natural range of A. vera is unclear, as the species has been widely cultivated throughout the world. Naturalised stands of the species occur in the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula, through North Africa (Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt), as well as Sudan and neighbouring countries, along with [11] the Canary, Cape Verde, and Madeira Islands. This distribution is somewhat similar to the one of Euphorbia balsamifera, Pistacia atlantica, and a few others, suggesting that a dry sclerophyll forest once covered large areas, but has been dramatically reduced due to desertification in the Sahara, leaving these few patches isolated. Several closely related (or sometimes identical) species can be found on the two extreme sides of the Sahara: dragon trees(Dracaena) and Aeonium being two of the most representative examples. The species was introduced to China and various parts of southern Europe in the 17th century. The species is widely naturalised elsewhere, occurring in temperate and tropical regions of Australia, [1][26] Barbados, Belize, Nigeria, Paraguay and the United States The actual species' distribution has been suggested to be the result of human cultivation
[25]

Uses[edit]
Preparations made from Aloe vera are often referred to as "aloe vera". Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and therapeutic effectiveness of aloe vera is limited and when present is frequently [2][3] contradictory. Despite this, the cosmetic and alternative medicine industries regularly make claims [4][40] regarding the soothing, moisturizing, and healing properties of aloe vera. Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotions, yogurt, beverages, and some [41][42][43] desserts, although at certain doses, it has toxic properties when used either for ingested or [44] topical applications. Other uses for extracts of Aloe vera include the dilution of semen for the [45] [46] artificial fertilization of sheep, as a fresh food preservative, or for water conservation in small [47] [48] farms. It has also been suggested that biofuels could be obtained from Aloe vera seeds. Aloe is also used as a food substance, possibly for its gelling properties.
[39]

Folk medicine[edit]
Early records of Aloe vera use appear in the Ebers Papyrus from the 16th century BC, in both Dioscorides' De Materia Medica and Pliny the Elder's Natural History written in the mid-first [16] [41] century AD along with the Juliana Anicia Codex produced in 512 AD. The species is used widely [4] in the traditional herbal medicine of many countries. Aloe vera, called kathalai in Ayurvedic medicine, is used as a multipurpose skin treatment. This may be partly due to the presence of saponin, a chemical compound that acts as an antimicrobial agent
[16]

Maharashtra
Maharashtra (/mhrtr/; Marathi: [mharar] (
listen))

is a state in

the western region of India. It is the second most populousstate after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India. Maharashtra is the wealthiest state in India, contributing 15% of the country's [5] industrial output and 13.3% of its GDP (20062007 figures). Maharashtra is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Gujarat and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the north and northeast, Chhattisgarh to the east, Karnataka to the south, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast and Goa to the southwest. The state 2 covers an area of 307,731 km (118,816 sq mi) or 9.84% of the total geographical area of India. Mumbai, the capital city of the state, is India's largest city and the financial capital of the nation. Nagpur is the second (Winter) capital of the state. Marathi is the state's official language. Capital: Mumbai /mmba/, also known as Bombay, is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and thefourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million. Along with the neighbouring urban areas, including the cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it is one of the most populous urban regions in [7] the world. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. In 2009, Mumbai [8] [9] was named an alpha world city. It is also the wealthiest city in India, and has thehighest GDP of any city in South, West or Central Asia.
Special Feautires State in west central India; area 307,762 sq km/118,828 sq mi; population (2001 est) 96,752,200. The capital is Mumbai (formerly Bombay), and other towns and cities include Pune, Nagpur, Ulhasnagar, Solapur, Nasik, Thana, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Sangli, and Amravati. The state is divided by the heavily forested Western Ghats into the Konkan coastal plain and the Deccan plateau. The plain is subject to the southwest monsoon from June to September. Inland is in a rain shadow receiving only half the coastal rainfall. The Godavari and Krishna rivers rise in the Western Ghats and flow eastwards across the Deccan. The Marathi language is spoken by 50% of the population. 80% of the population are Hindu, with Parsee, Jain, and Sikh minorities. The state was formed in 1960 from the southern part of the former Bombay state. Maharashtra's present economic importance originates from the trading role of Mumbai and a cotton-growing hinterland. The Mumbai-Pune complex is the major industrial area, with Mumbai producing about one-third of India's tax revenues. In the 1970s, decentralization initiatives led to the rapid growth of other centres such as Aurangabad.

Flora And Fauna In Maharashtra

Maharashtras forest areas lie mostly along its border with Madhya Pradesh (north and east) and in the west along the slopes of the Sahayadri Hills. Many of these areas have been made into wildlife reserves. The teak forests of Dhokna-Kolkaz in the north abound in a variety of wildlife tigers, panthers, bison, the flying squirrel, and several species of antelope live in the Melghat Tiger Reserve. The Nagzira Wild Life Sanctuary in the east is home to the sloth bear, chousingha (four-horned antelope), blue bull, barking deer, panthers and a wide variety of birds. Just a few km south in the verdant surroundings of a lake of that name is the Nawagaon National Park, one of the prettiest in the state. Equally picturesque is the Tadoba National Park, the winter home of migratory waterfowl and ducks. You could combine

a visit to this park with your trip to Gandhijis Ashram at Sevagram (75 km). If you are a keen bird-watcher, the best place to head for is the Karnala Bird Sanctuary approximately 60 km southeast of Mumbai. Occupations in Maharashtra
Maharashtra is India's leading industrial state contributing 13% of national industrial output. 64.14% of the people are employed in agriculture and allied activities. Almost 46% of the GSDP is contributed by industry. Maharashtra has had an immense History in textiles and Mumbai city was the original home of India's textile mills. Today some of the city's known for textile industry Solapur, Ichalkaranji,Malegaon and Bhiwandi. Sugar industry has made considerable progress specially in the co-operative sector. Maharashtra is well known for the development of sugar industry on co-operative lines in which the farmers acquire a share in the sugar mills. Pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, heavy chemicals, electronics, automobiles, engineering, food processing, and plastics are some of the major industries of the state. Maharashtra is renowned for the production of threewheelers, jeeps, commercial vehicles and cars, synthetic fibers, cold rolled products and industrial alcohol. Small scale industries have also come up in a big way in the state. The state capital Mumbai is called as an industrial city. Industrial development in the state is largely concentrated in Mumbai. The six important industries in the district are cotton textiles, [5] chemicals, machinery, electricals, transport and metallurgy. These industries also provide employment to a considerable number of people in Mumbai.

Agriculture[edit]
Although Maharashtra is a highly industrialized state of India, agriculture continues to be the main occupation of the state. Principal crops include rice, jowar, bajra, wheat, pulses, turmeric,onions, cotton, sugarcane and several oil seeds including groundnut, sunflower and soyabean. The state has huge areas, under fruit cultivation of which mangoes, bananas, grapes, and orangesare the main ones. Irrigation facilities are being extended so that agriculture could be made less dependent upon rain water. The net irrigated area totals 33,500 square kilometres

Special Events
Festivals and revelries in any Maharashtra add an extra dose of excitement to the holiday experience. Events in Maharashtra are all about fun, entertainment and learning. Soak in every moment of some of the most enjoyable events in Maharashtra. Mingle with the locals and join in the celebration of special events in Maharashtra. While planning your trip/holiday, check out for the timings of the important events in Maharashtra ? you don?t want to miss out on the opportunity to see the festivities! Festivals and events also give you the opportunity to click some really good pictures of the celebrations and bonhomie in Maharashtra. Be it a religious occasion or cultural events, most of the events in Maharashtra are guaranteed to be a high on the fun quotient.