Importance of Echinops giganteus Unraveled

There is this plant called Echinops giganteus which was considered as mere grass in the place where it was discovered. This place is called Wabane and the soil of this place permits the natural growth of the plant.
At first, little children used the ball-like flowers of this plant in playing all types of games. They called it in their local language (Mundani) ‘Ayilaguem’ and they always moved up and down the hills searching for this plant.
Still in the early times, mothers used the roots of this plant in preparing their black soup which they commonly called ‘Melumpard’. They pounded their ‘achu’ using some cocoyams called colocassia and also called in their common language ‘Nquang”
Today, the importance of this plant has been uncovered. This discovery was made by a white girl called Manuella Huque who came from France to this area (Wabane) in 2013. She has been transporting the roots of this plant to France where it would be used in making essential oil for perfumes and other pharmaceutical products
Everywhere around the village is now characterized with pot holes where the plant has been uprooted to be taken to France. Little did we know that this plant was of great importance. I LOVE ECHINOPPS.
Written by Tanduh Linda Mafon,
Student in Magha, Wabane Subdivision, Lebialem Division, SW Cameroon, who aspires to become a Journalist