The Resilient Dhau - A Hero Species of the Aravali Forests

Dhau – The icon of resilience

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We begin our series on the hero species of the Aravalis with one of the most enduring figures among the Aravali flora, the resilient Dhau. This superbly hardy tree occupies a unique niche in the hill ecology of the semi arid Aravali forests- that of colonizing rocky, unforgiving slopes.

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Even lopping or pruning does not dent its resilience, as it continues to grow, albeit as a shrub, spreading laterally. Not one to be ignored for its looks, the Dhau is a pretty sight, with fledgling trees having a silvery trunk, a canopy that bows gracefully at the edges and small leaves adding to its delicate visage.

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This tree yields the toughest timber in the country. The leaves were used to make a green dye in the past, and the bark yields tannins that can be used to bleach sheepskin, as well as a type of gum.

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This icon of the Aravalis is vanishing fast from sight, and needs critical intervention if these forests, which are a lifeline for natural resources to people in the NCR region, are to endure.

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