<i>Cacti, splendour among spines</i>
An attractive cactus ensemble sits atop a table surrounded by different plants at the National Plants Fair being held in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. The photo was taken recently. Photo: Giang tran
Cacti sit forgotten and ignored like a tiny island amid an ocean of bonsai and different fruit, herbal, and flower plants, at the National Plants Fair held in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. “The first choice of customers is fruit plants such as mangoes, guavas, and litchis then bonsai and flower plants. A cactus is their last choice,” said a stall owner at the fair. “In the busy city of Dhaka among crowded buildings and houses, people have neither the place nor time to take care of plants,” a visitor said adding “so when they do get a chance, they want plants which will give them fruits and shade.” A teenager, who owns a rooftop garden with more than 70 plants, said, “I am afraid of cacti's spines. I want flower plants that I can admire and touch.” Though it is true that cacti are not plants meant for touching, in the fair there are cacti, which produce fruits and flowers. Pitaya, a kind of cacti of the genus Hylocereus, bears dragon fruits. Originally from Mexico, Central and South America, these plants are now being cultivated in many Southeast and East Asian countries. Dragon fruit, which has a light sweet taste, gets its name from its appearance. With red skin and small leaves protruding from it, the fruit resembles a dragon's head. “The dragon fruit market is still very new to Bangladesh,” said Tarek Rahman, president of National Nursery Association. “Dragon fruits can be found in supermarkets but those are imported at a very high price,” he said. Cacti produce flowers if they are grown with care and patience. The plants need dew and sunlight but much water is not required, watering twice a week is enough. A cactus lover said, “If you have cacti then avoid the rain because too much water is not good for the plants.” This cacti enthusiast was rewarded for her patience. Three months after she bought her cactus, it started producing flowers. Each flower lasted a week. “Who says you cannot touch cacti? I touched the flowers,” she said excitedly. “In the near future more and more people will choose cacti as ornament plants,” Tarek said. In the fair, various types of cacti have been displayed with their strange names. While scientific names such as melocactus and ferocactus exist, the stranger ones include Old man. This unique type of cactus looks like a thin man bending forward while his left arm bends at his side. Price of small cacti range from Tk 50 to Tk 100 while grafting cacti cost between Tk 200 and Tk 1000. “Their price is high because Bangladesh does not have any cacti centre. Cacti are imported from India and Thailand,” Tarek said. The fair will end on July 5th. Cacti are apparently dangerous plants and difficult to touch but behind the tough exterior they are a symbol of patience, endurance, and persistence.
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