Wonder plant in Bhurkunda attracts crowd

Barrackpore, May 2 (UNI) Crowds thronged farmer Mozammel Haque's kitchen garden to have a look at the plant that bore 37 pieces of bottle gourd in a single stalk.

40-year-old Haque, resident of Bhurkunda village under Ashoknagar police station in North 24 Parganas district, had sown the plant two months ago.

The plant, which spread on the entire tiled roof, bore bottle gourds each weighing about 200 to 250 grams.

Enthusiasts from different areas have been rushing to Bhurkunda to have a glimpse of the fruits.

Appearance of such huge number of fruits in a single stalk is not common. Such things could have happened due to excess secretion of hormone or too much application of pesticides, observed retired botanical scientist Dr Dulal Chandra Paul of Shibpur Botanical Garden.

UNI XC TJP SS1311