Low water Trees - Acacia farnesiana or Sweet Acacia Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 155-365

There is a science that is able to transform deserts in Forest Foods. The name of this science is Permaculture.
Here is a video that show the process. It is an amazing video that I recommend it.
http://permaculturenews.org/2009/12/11/greening-the-desert-ii-final/

For now we take one plant at a time and focus on it to promote it to be planted in arid areas.

Acacia farnesiana or Sweet Acacia

This tall, semievergreen, native shrub or small tree has feathery, finely divided leaflets of a soft, medium green color. The slightly rough stems are a rich chocolate brown or grey, possessing long, sharp, multiple thorns. The small, yellow, puff-like flowers are very fragrant and appear in clusters in late winter then sporadically after each new flush of growth, providing nearly year-round bloom. The persistent fruits have a glossy coat and contain seeds which are cherished by birds and other wildlife.

Use and Management

It can be trained into a tree for use in median strips, or can be used as a street tree where there is not a need for tall-vehicle clearance beneath the crown. The small stature and low, spreading branching habit makes pruning for vehicular clearance difficult unless it is properly trained from an early age. But the required input of manhours for early training may be offset by the high drought, pest and insect resistance of the tree. Do not locate the tree too close to where people can be injured by the sharp thorns on the branches.

Although easy to grow in any acid or alkaline soil, including clay, the leaves will drop if the soil is allowed to dry out. This drought avoidance mechanism allows the plant to grow well with no irrigation once established.

Growing best in full sun, this thorny, well-branched shrub makes an excellent barrier planting or nesting cover for wildlife. When trained as a small tree and used as a freestanding specimen, it is likely to provide a source for comments, such as "what's that?".

 But its growth rate is extremely slow, making it unpopular in the nursery trade but popular with those who care for it in the landscape. Sweet Acacia has its place in any sunny shrub border or as an accent plant in any garden if located away from areas where children frequent, since the thorns can inflict severe pain. It is well suited for dry climates with little rainfall.
Propagation of Sweet Acacia is by seeds or cuttings.

Fruits

It will continue to bloom throughout the year, though more sparsely. It produces leguminous fruit encased in woody pods. The seeds are attractive to birds and other wildlife.
 

Traditional medicine

• The bark and the flowers are the parts of the tree most used in traditional medicine. V. farnesiana has been used in Colombia to treat malaria
• Colombians bathe in the bark decoction as a treatment for typhoid
• The extract from the tree bark and leaves has shown some efficacy against the malarial pathogen Plasmodium falciparum in animal models . 
• Indigenous Australians have used the roots and bark of the tree to treat diarrhea and diseases of the skin. 
• The tree's leaves can also be rubbed on the skin to treat skin diseases.
• The flowers are added to ointment, which is rubbed on the forehead to treat headaches
• The powdered dried leaves have been applied externally as a treatment for wounds
• The green pods have been decocted and used in the treatment of dysentery and inflammations of the skin and raucous membrane
• The juice of the bark is used in Nepal to treat swellings
• An infusion of the pod has been used in the treatment of sore throats, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, conjunctivitis, and uterorrhagia

Food

The leaves are used as a tamarind flavoring for chutneys and the pods are roasted to be used in sweet and sour dishes
Notes

The common name, huisache, is Nahuatl (language of the Aztecs) meaning many thorns. The fragrant flowers have been used in the perfume industry. This acacia will drop its leaves under severe drought conditions as a defense mechanism.

Low-Water Trees Leather-Leaf Acacia or Acacia craspedocarpa Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 154 -365

Endemic to Western Australia, it occurs in watercourses, on floodplains and alongside rivers throughout south-central Western Australia.
Hop mulga is a spreading, shrubby tree that can grow to three metres but it is usually smaller. Like most Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. These are bluish green, about two centimetres long and one centimetres wide. The flowers are yellow, and held in cylindrical clusters up to two centimetres long and five millimetres in diameter. The pods are broad and flat, and resemble the pods of the hop plant.
 

In spring individual, small, bright yellow, elongated rod flowers are produced. Tan-colored, flat, 2" long pods develop from the flowers. The botanical name probably is drawn from a description of these pods since crasped translates to broad in Latin and carp refers to fruit. Leather Leaf Acacia is moderately cold hardy (15 to 20 F) and grows well in full and partial sun. It will tolerate a variety of soils but does best in well-draining soils. 

Established plants are highly adapted to harsh summer conditions and can survive without supplemental irrigation. Watering once a month will ensure limited growth but more frequent irrigation is needed to achieve optimal growth, appearance and flowering. This plant grows slowly and in some landscape applications it may be desirable to install larger container sizes (15 gallon to 36" box) to get more immediate impact.

 

Specimens pruned into tree form can be used as individual specimens or in small groupings. Leather Leaf are most commonly uses an as informal hedge planting or as part of a landscape screen. Because the growth of established specimens can be easily regulated by irrigation practices, A. craspedocarpa offers a low maintenance alternative to Oleanders or other non-desert species used as landscape screens.

Medicinal Uses

 

Ailments of a wide variety are treated with some form of Acacia spp., including 

• diarrhea,  

• laryngitis,

• venereal diseases,

• cuts and abrasions,

•  skin irritation,

•  the pain of childbirth, 

• sores, 

• scabies, 

• aching joints, and 

• congestion 

Habitat

In its native growth areas it is found in red clay or loam, alluvium, stony red earth. In low-lying areas, floodplains, along watercourses, & flats. Xeriscape ornamental in lower elevations in the Phoenix and Tucson areas of Arizona.

Palm tree Medicinal Uses, History, Planting Tips, Soil Needs, Symbolism

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 151-365

Palm trees are a family of plants. This family is called Arecaceae. Palm trees are not true trees. They grow in hot climates.

Well known palm trees are:

• Date palm
• Coconut palm

There are over two thousand kinds, living in many kinds of places from rainforests to deserts.

History

Palms first appear in the fossil record around 80 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous Period. Some kinds from that period are still to be seen today, such as the nipa palm or mangrove palm

The palm as a symbol

 

•  The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in Roman times. The Romans rewarded champions of the games and celebrated success in war with palm branches.
• Jews also had a tradition of carrying palm branches during festive times.
• Early Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul, as in the Palm Sunday festival celebrating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
• In Judaism, the palm represents peace and plenty. The palm may also symbolize the Tree of Life in Kabbalah.
• The Prophet Muhammad is said to have built his home out of palm, and the palm represents rest and hospitality in many cultures of the Middle East.
• Palm stems represented long life to the Ancient Egyptians, and the god Huh was often shown holding a palm stem in one or both hands.

• The sacred tree of the Assyrians was a palm that represents the god Ishtar connecting heaven, the crown of the tree, and earth, the base of the trunk. The Mesopotamian goddess Inanna, who had a part in the sacred marriage ritual, was thought of as the one who made the dates abundant 
• The palm tree was a sacred sign of Apollo in Ancient Greece because he had been born under one .
• The palm, especially the Coconut, remains a symbol of tropical island paradise  
• The palm tree also represents Oasis.

 Soil Need

Light and well-drained soils are imperative for healthy palm tree growth. Sand-based soil, like sandy loam, provides the best earth environment for spreading palm roots because palms do not like compacted soils with few air pockets, such as clay. Heavy soils suffocate roots and contribute to growth stunting and root rot.

Water Preferences


If you have just planted your palm tree, its water needs are significantly different than for an established plant. Water new palm twice a week until the first 18 inches of soil are moist. A moisture meter is a useful tool to verify the depth you have saturated. After six months have passed, the palm has a better root structure to find adequate moisture. At this point, watering is only necessary two times each month. A well-established palm has a good level of drought tolerance.

Planting the Desert with Palm Trees

If you are considering planting palms as part of a backyard desert oasis, be aware that there are few palm trees you can grow with confidence in  dry, hot desert -- out of the over 2500+ species of palms around the world. 

 

Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) - a multi-trunk palm that grows to about 15 feet. 

Mexican Blue Palm (Brahea Armata) - a slow-growing palm with arching, silvery-blue feather-like fronds. Reaches about 30 feet at maturity.

Guadalupe Fan Palm (Brahea edulis) - similar to the Mexican Blue Palm, this one grows faster to 30 feet in height. The fan-shaped fronds are a light green. Edible fruit.  

Pindo Palm (Butia capitata) - Another short palm, growing only to 20 feet. The gray-green feather-shaped fronds curve downward. Edible fruit. 

Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) -- a giant among palms, grows to 50 feet high with a massive trunk and 10 foot long fronds.  

Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) -- more slender than the Canary Island palm, but also grows tall: 60 feet.

Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) - a semi-dwarf palm with windmill-shaped fronds. Slow-growing to 15 feet tall. This tree loves our summer heat!

California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) - a native of California, Arizona, and Mexico, this massive palm grows to 50 feet.  

Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) - a palm equivalent of a skyscraper, it grows to 80 feet or more. 

Two other palms worth trying are the Chinese Fountain Palm (Livistona Chinensis ) and the Australian Cabbage Palm (Livistona australis). Both have a "weeping" shape with gracefully drooping fronds. 

About Planting Palms

Palms, unlike other trees, are best planted in late Spring or Summer. They like warm soil for their roots to grow.  Be sure the hole for planting is 2 to 3 times as wide as the root ball.  And water regularly until established.

About Pruning Palms

Only trim off the brown drooping fronds. Do not trim off  ones that are still green -- the tree needs them to collect sunlight to create chlorophyll for growth and best health.  As a rule of thumb, leave a minimum of 7 fronds on the tree.

Medicinal Uses

 

• The fruit of the date palm contains tannin, which makes it an effective astringent. 
• The fruit from this tree has been used to treat sore throats, 
• colds, 
• bronchial catarrh,
•  fevers, gonorrhea, 
• edema and 
• abdominal problems. 
• The seeds from the tree have been ground into a paste that is effective in treating ague.
•  Toothaches have been relieved by date palm roots.  
• Finally, gum extracted from the trunk of this tree has effectively been used to treat diarrhea and 
• urinary ailments.
• Roots of coconut palms are medicinal and can be used to treat dysentery. 
• They can also be used as a dye or a mouthwash. 
• Shredded roots also make a crude toothbrush.
  
  
   

Beautiful Red Flower Tree Triplaris Cumingiana Long John or Ant Tree Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 149-365
Alternative Names
Triplaris cumingiana Long John  Ant Tree Dilla, Guayabo hormiguero, Palo santo, Vara santa

 

The Long John Tree is native to Central America and tropical South America Panama to and Peru.  It is sometimes called the Ant Tree, because in its native habitat, its hollow branches are inhabited by stinging ants which protect the tree from herbivores.  This tree can attain a height of 50-70′ with an oblong canopy that remains narrow.  The bark peels off in patches, giving it a smooth blotchy trunk.  

The brown seeds, small square nuts, have wings. When the seeds of this tree fall they look like many small helicopters gyrating to earth. They can be carried away by the wind for many miles before reaching the ground.

This tree is dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants.  The blossoms of the female tree are more deeply colored than the male tree, and produce nutlike seeds attatched to three brilliant red 2″ long propeller like wings, that are wind dispersed, fluttering down like tiny helicopters.  They flower in the dry season from November to early spring. 

A medium to large, dry deciduous tree from mixed forests at low to medium elevations along the Andes between Panama and Bolivia with large, glossy leaves, cream colored flowers on male trees and pink to bright red flowers on female trees.

Medicinal Uses

• Triplaris Surinamensis is used in Shamanism to prepare Ayahuasca (both a medicinal tradition specific to the Amazonas and a shamanic medicinal brews).
• A decoction of the bark is used in the treatment of dysentery, diarrhoea and piles 

 

Agro Forestry Uses

A fast-growing, natural pioneer species within its native range, it can be used for re-establishing native woodland, especially in moister soils and in areas subject to inundation.

 

 

Propagation

 

Seed - best as as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A high germination rate can be expsoon ected, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days. When the seedlings are 4 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 4 - 5 months later

 

Growing tips:

- Grow well in full sun or a slightly shaded place. Young plants require some amount of shade.
- Soil - good drained, water retentive. Rich in nutrients.
- They require constant humidity and warm temperatures

Special Character:

• Rare Plant or difficult to get plant
• Good for screening
• Attracts bees
• Recommended for creating shade
• Quick growing trees
• Evergreen trees
• Suitable for avenue planting
• Grows best in humid and warm regions
• Must have for Farm house or big gardens

Strange Trees Cannon ball tree or Couroupita guianensis Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 148-365

The cannon ball tree is one of the more spectacular South American trees to be planted in subtropical and tropical botanical gardens throughout the world. This magnifient tree can be seen in cultivation at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables, Florida. The species was given the name Couroupita guianensis in 1775 by the French botanist J. F. Aublet and is a member of the Brazil nut family.  The tree is also called a “sala tree,”


This big tree can grow 35 m (115 ft) tall and achieve an 80 cm (2.6 ft) trunk diameter.  



The large, sweetly fragrant flowers (and later the fruit) are borne directly from the trunk and main branches (cauliflory) in large clusters on woody stalks that can be a few metres long. The heavy fruits drop from the tree with great force and may crack open upon landing, revealing a foul smelling pulp with many seeds. Wild peccaries and other animals eat the pulp and disperse the seeds in their waste.

Pollination


The tree at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, FL, is self-incompatible. It requires cross -pollination from another tree (in past years, the tree at Montgomery Botanical Center was the daddy). The flowers are borne on long, woody, perennial branches that originate from the lower part of the trunk and hang down. The cold weather Miami is getting this week will cause the tree to completely defoliate within a couple of days, but new, replacement leaves will grow out within a couple of weeks.

Most fruits of this species in nature are probably the result of the movement of pollen from one tree to another, but experiments show that self-pollinated plants of the cannon ball tree also set fruit.

Dispersal

 
Observation of a tree under which the ground was covered by many fruits revealed that they remained untouched until a herd of peccaries passed by and broke open the fruits and consumed the pulp. Presumably the peccaries pass the seeds in their feces and some of the seeds germinate. The seeds of species of Couroupita have hairs on their seed coat which may protect them from digestive juices and facilitate their passage through the digestive tracts of animals.

Medicinal Uses


In the Amazon all parts of the tree are used medicinally by the shamans who also eat the fruit, although this is not recommended for ordinary mortals who probably have allergic reactions to it.



Each of these fruits, or cannonballs, contains up to 200 or 300 seeds apiece.  This tree is considered a maestro plant, as its spirit enjoys teaching and the plant itself has incredible medicinal properties. The spirit is typically male and works well with other power plants like ayahuasca.

The flowers, leaves, bark and fruit flesh are used medicinally. Ayahuma possesses

• antibiotic, 
• anti-microbial
• antifungal, 
• antiseptic and
•  analgesic qualities. 
• Can be used to treat heart diseases,
•  aids, 
• cancer, 
• osteoporosis,
•  memory loss,

•  infectious diseases resistant to vaccines, 
• parasitic worms and 
• to treat animals.
• The bark is used to cure colds and 
• stomach aches. 
• The juice made from the leaves is used to cure skin diseases and
•  for treating malaria. 
•  The inside of the fruit can disinfect wounds and 
• young leaves ease toothache.  
• In Ayurvedic medicine the leaves are used as an anti-inflammatory, and for alopecia, skin diseases and fevers.
• In folk medicine the tree and its parts are said to bring someone who is mad back to sanity. 
• In the Amazon, the flesh of the fruit is used to clean wounds

Around the World


The cannonball tree is native to the tropical forests in the Amazon basin in northeastern South America and also the islands of the southern Caribbean. It has been used traditionally as an anti-microbial and anodyne. There is some controversy on its native status in India and Thailand.


In India, the tree is revered, and planted near Shiva temples. It is called Shivalinga in Hindi, and Nagalingam in Tamil. Some proponents of pre-columbian transoceanic voyages cite fossil evidence and written historical records of Couroupita guianensis in Asia as proof of transcontinental trade.

• It is a sacred tree for Hindus. 
• It is often associated with Shiva temples in India.
•  It is called the Nagalingam tree in Tamil.

Stories

The cannonball fruit is thought to have been originally eaten and dispersed by giant ground sloths, which are now extinct. In modern times, peccaries have been observed eating the fruit. In the tropics, where the cannonball tree is planted for its beautiful and aromatic flowers, there are signs on the trees warning people to stay away from the base of the tree, as its heavy fruit falls to the ground randomly.

Cannon Ball and Religion


It is common for curanderos to diet with this powerful tree in order to strengthen their spirits and protect them from dark or negative entities.

The Cannonball tree is held in high regard by the shamans of the Amazon region.They call it “head of spirit” or Ayahuma.


It is sacred to Hindus who call it Nagalingam, as it has what resembles the sacred serpent on the large Shiva lingam in the centre of the flower and there are other Shiva lingams around this. 

In Buddhist countries the cannonball tree represents Enlightenment and is found in many temples (sometimes known as Bodhi tree) as it is very reminiscent of the Sala tree (Shorea Robusta species) under which Buddha is supposed to have died, or according to others, under which He was born. Very sacred, either way.

Sacred Trees - Banyan Trees- Wish Fulfilling Tree - Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 146-365

This is a  Banyan tree. The interesting thing about these trees is that the roots acutally grow down from the branches. Once they hit the ground, they grow into trunks.

As these roots grow down from the branches and the tree expands, the new roots become known as “accessory trunks”. In Miami, where there are often hurricanes, the banyan trees are the only trees that don’t blow over in the strong winds.  The many roots and accessory trunks make them strong and able to withstand even Category 4 hurricanes.


Native to India many Banyan tree seedlings were imported to south Florida in the late 1800's. These trees can grow up to 100 feet in height (30.5 meters) and live approximately 1,000 years.

A Banyan (also Banian) is a fig that starts its life as an epiphyte (a plant growing on another plant) when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree (or on structures like buildings and bridges). "Banyan" often refers specifically to the Indian banyan or Ficus benghalensis, which is the national tree of the Republic of India, though the term has been generalized to include all figs that share a characteristic life cycle, and systematically to refer to the subgenus Urostigma.


Banyan tree is a  member of the ficus family.

The prop roots form columns over time, indistinguishable from the main trunk. The main trunk can even die leaving behind the columns which keep growing outward.

Should a “tree” be thought of only as a single organism? Especially in the tropics, trees can literally constitute an entire city as they support a network of other plants and animals. When trees provide favorable conditions for life by other species, they are considered “keystone” species. Yet trees are often dependent on other species. Many trees could not live without other cooperative species with which they have relations, usually mutually advantageous ones. 
 
Nature is full of evolutionary co-dependencies in which particular tree species requires one particular pollinator to reproduce (for example, Ficus species). Many trees are dependent on animals for seed dispersal. Oaks and pines are known to be particularly dependent on mycorrhizae, a soil-borne fungi that significantly increases the absorptive area and efficiency of a tree's roots. 

A single fungal mycelium may extend for acres and also may interact with many plants of different species. Are these linked organisms a tree or many trees? Species evolution can certainly be described as a strange mix of collaborations as well as competitions! 

Etymology

 

The name was originally given to F. benghalensis and comes from India where early travellers observed that the shade of the tree was frequented by banias or Indian traders.
In the Gujarati language, banya means "grocer/merchant," not "tree."

Religion and mythology

It is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus. Krishna is said to have achieved enlightenment under one, and Shiva, in his role of Universal teacher, Dakshinamurti, sat under a bohar tree to enlighten the sages who had come to hear his teachings. 

It is India’s national symbol, symbolizing India’s unity through diversity (as the tree has several trunks and many aerial roots).

 

In Hinduism, the leaf of the Banyan tree is said to be the resting place for the god Krishna. In the Bhagavat Gita Krishna said "There is a banyan tree which has its roots upward and its branches down, and the Vedic hymns are its leaves. One who knows this tree is the knower of the Vedas." 

The Banyan tree is also a symbol of spiritual knowledge. In the Pralaya it is written that only Krishna survived the great Cosmic Flood, and he is depicted sucking his toe, while floating over the flood waters on a banyan leaf in many Indian Tajore paintings.

 

 In Hindu mythology it is known as the ‘wish fulfilling tree’. Its ever expanding branches represent eternal life

Here the material world is described as a tree whose roots are upwards and branches are below.

We have experience of a tree whose roots are upward: if one stands on the bank of a river or any reservoir of water, he can see that the trees reflected in the water are upside down.

The branches go downward and the roots upward. Similarly, this material world is a reflection of the spiritual world. The material world is but a shadow of reality. In the shadow there is no reality or substantiality, but from the shadow we can understand that there is substance and reality.

In many stories of Philippine Mythology, the banyan, (locally known as balete or balite) is said to be home to a variety of spirits (diwata and engkanto) and demon-like creatures (among the Visayans, specifically, the dili ingon nato, meaning "those not like us"). Maligno (Evil spirits, from Spanish for 'malign') associated with it include the kapre (a giant), duwende (dwarves), and the tikbalang (a creature whose top half is a horse and whose bottom half is human).

 Medicinal Uses

The banyan is sacred to the Hindus, and plays a great part in their ceremonies. The leaves are made into plates. 

 

The wood yields an inferior rubber and is used in medicine to 

• be applied externally to relieve pain, 
• bruises and 
• rheumatism. 

An infusion of the bark is regarded as a powerful tonic and poultice. 

 

• The health benefits and the therapeutic uses of the banyan tree include its effectiveness in curing dysentery and chronic diarrhea. In this treatment, the leaf buds of the banyan tree are soaked in water overnight and then consumed the next morning. In fact the medicinal benefits of the banyan tree are also found in its latex which is also used to treat dysentery and diarrhea.
• Health benefits of the banyan tree also result in the treatment of female sterility. In this treatment the roots of the banyan tree should be dried  and then ground to a fine powder  which should then be mixed with five times the quantity of milk and consumed for three nights consecutively after every menstruation cycle till the woman conceives
• The health benefits of the banyan tree also extend to teeth disorders. It has been observed that cleaning the teeth using the aerial roots of the banyan tree is known to help in preventing various teeth disorders. The astringent properties of the roots of the banyan tree tends to cleanse as well as strengthen the gums and the teeth.
• The latex obtained from the bark of the banyan tree is also known to be used locally as a natural treatment for lumbago and rheumatic pain. The latex is also used locally to treat skin disorders such as ulcers, bruises and sores.
• For diabetes, soak overnight, 1 sq. inch of the bark of the tree in a glass of water and drink the infusion the next morning.   
• For eczema, char the tender leaf-buds in hot ashes and dissolve the same in gingelly oil for application on the affected areas.
• For gum problems and pyorrhea, chew crushed prop roots, hold in mouth for a while and then rinse the  mouth with lukewarm water.
•   Boil 1-3 sq. inches of the bark of the tree in 2 cups of water for 5-10 minutes. Cool and use this decoction for gargling. Repeat several times a day. This helps relieve bad breath and oral ulcers.
•  For leucorrhea, boil 1-3 tablespoons of the powdered dry bark of the fig tree and the banyan tree in 1-2 litres of water till it is reduced to1/2 litre. Strain and when lukewarm, douche the vagina. Repeat several times a day.
• For pimples or acne, make a fine paste of the prop roots and apply on the affected parts. Repeat as needed.
•  To cure skin diseases and venereal diseases, boil 3-5 tablespoons of the bark in 4-5cups water till the volume is reduced to 1 cup. Add 1 teaspoon of honey and drink. Use 2 or 3 times a week.
• Apply the latex externally on the affected parts in cases of bruises, hemorrhoids, swellings, lumbago and rheumatism.
• For rashes, apply a paste of the leaves on the affected areas.

The fruit is eaten. The wood is of little value but is durable under water. 

Propagation

Widely distributed in India, the tree may be propagated by seeds and cuttings. The seeds should be sown as soon as they ripen, preferably in pots in fine leaf mould mixture with powdered charcoal. Large cuttings should be put down at the commencement of the monsoon.