Orange Tree

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 150-365

Orange is richest source of antioxidants of all fruits, stimulates the digestion, lowers the cholesterol and protects against cardiovascular disease – orange is the real king of fruits. - See more at: http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/orange-king-of-fruits/#sthash.D7bA6Jrl.dpuf

Oranges strangely enough, did not get it's name from its colour but rather from an ancient Sanskrit word meaning "fragrant". In fact, people have prized this golden fruit for its beauty and scent for years.

The word entered Late Middle English in the fourteenth century via Old French orenge (in the phrase pomme d'orenge).


In other Indo-European languages, the words for orange allude to the eastern origin of the fruit and can be translated literally as "apple from China".

As Portuguese merchants were presumably the first to introduce the sweet orange in Europe, in several modern Indo-European languages the fruit has been named after them. Some examples are Albanian portokall, Bulgarian портокал (portokal), Greek πορτοκάλι (portokali), Persian پرتقال (porteghal), and Romanian portocală

History

 

There are no reports of sweet oranges occurring in the wild. In general, it is believed that sweet orange trees have originated in Southeast Asia, northeastern India, or southern China, and that they were first cultivated in China around 2500 BC.

In Europe, citrus fruits—among them the bitter orange, introduced to Italy by the crusaders in the 11th century—were grown widely in the south for medicinal purposes, but the sweet orange was unknown until the late 15th century or the beginnings of the 16th century, when Italian and Portuguese merchants brought orange trees into the Mediterranean area.Shortly afterward, the sweet orange quickly was adopted as an edible fruit.
 
It also was considered a luxury item and wealthy people grew oranges in private conservatories, called orangeries. By 1646, the sweet orange was well known throughout Europe

Spanish explorers introduced the sweet orange into the American continent. On his second voyage in 1493, Christopher Columbus took seeds of oranges, lemons, and citrons to Haiti and the Caribbean.

Subsequent expeditions in the mid-1500s brought sweet oranges to South America and Mexico, and to Florida in 1565, when Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St Augustine. Spanish missionaries brought orange trees to Arizona between 1707 and 1710, while the Franciscans did the same in San Diego, California, in 1769.

An orchard was planted at the San Gabriel Mission around 1804 and a commercial orchard was established in 1841 near present-day Los Angeles. In Louisiana, oranges probably were introduced by French explorers.

Propagation

It is possible to grow orange trees directly from seeds, but they may be infertile or produce fruit that may be different from its parent. For the seed of a commercial orange to grow, it must be kept moist at all times. One approach is placing the seeds between two sheets of damp paper towel until they germinate and then planting them, although many cultivators just set the seeds straight into the soil.

Commercially grown orange trees are propagated asexually by grafting a mature cultivar onto a suitable seedling rootstock to ensure the same yield, identical fruit characteristics, and resistance to diseases throughout the years.

 Propagation involves two stages: first, a rootstock is grown from seed. Then, when it is approximately one year old, the leafy top is cut off and a bud taken from a specific scion variety, is grafted into its bark. The scion is what determines the variety of orange, while the rootstock makes the tree resistant to pests and diseases and adaptable to specific soil and climatic conditions.

Thus, rootstocks influence the rate of growth and have an effect on fruit yield and quality.

Production

 Brazil is the world's leading orange producer, with an output almost as high as that of the next three countries combined (the United States, India, and China). Orange groves are located mainly in the state of São Paulo, in the southeastern region of Brazil, and account for approximately 80% of the national production.

Uses

• The orange blossom, which is the state flower of Florida, is highly fragrant and traditionally associated with good fortune. It has long been popular in bridal bouquets and head wreaths.
• Orange blossom essence is an important component in the making of perfume.
• Orange blossom petals can also be made into a delicately citrus-scented version of rosewater, known as "orange blossom water" or "orange flower water". It is a common ingredient in French and Middle Eastern cuisines, especially in desserts and baked goods. In some Middle Eastern countries, drops of orange flower water are added to disguise the unpleasant taste of hard water drawn from wells or stored in qullahs (traditional Egyptian water pitchers made of porous clay). In the United States, orange flower water is used to make orange blossom scones and marshmallows.
• In Spain, fallen blossoms are dried and used to make tea.
• Orange blossom honey (or citrus honey) is obtained by putting beehives in the citrus groves while trees bloom. By this method, bees also pollinate seeded citrus varieties. This type of honey has an orangey taste and is highly prized.
• Marmalade usually is made with Seville oranges. All parts of the fruit are used: the pith and pips (separated and placed in a muslin bag) are boiled in a mixture of juice, slivered peel, sliced-up flesh, sugar, and water to extract their pectin, which helps the conserve to set.
• Orange peel is used by gardeners as a slug repellent.
• Orange leaves can be boiled to make tea.
• Orangewood sticks are used as cuticle pushers in manicures and pedicures, and as spudgers for manipulating slender electronic wires.
• Orangewood is used in the same way as mesquite, oak, and hickory for seasoning grilled meat.

Medicinal Uses

• Orange Juice Improves "Good" Cholesterol
• Boost you immune system
• Fights Against Viral Infections 
• An infusion of the immature fruit is taken to relieve stomach and intestinal complaints.
• Prevents Kidney Diseases -Drinking orange juice regularly prevents kidney diseases and reduces the risk of kidney stones. 
  Studies show that the abundance of polyphenols in oranges protects against viral infections.
• Relieves Constipation -Oranges are full of dietary fiber which stimulates digestive juices and relieves constipation. 
•  Helps Create Good Vision - Oranges are rich in carotenoid compounds which are converted to vitamin A and help prevent macular degeneration.
• Regulates High Blood Pressure-The flavonoid hesperidin found in oranges helps regulate high blood pressure and the magnesium in oranges helps maintain blood pressure. 
• Protects Skin -Oranges are full of beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant protecting the cells from being damage which also protects the skin from free radicals and prevents the signs of aging. 
• Oranges Alkalize the Body -Although oranges are acidic before you digest them, they contain many alkaline minerals that help to balance out the body after they are digested. In this respect, they are similar to lemons which are one of the most alkaline foods available. 
• Provides Smart Carbs Oranges like all fruits have simple sugars in them, but the orange has a glycemic index of 40.  Anything under 55 is considered low. This means as long as you don’t eat a lot of oranges at one time, they won’t spike your blood sugar and cause problems with insulin or weight gain.
• One study said that you can lower your anxiety level just by peeling an orange and sniffing it.
• Orange Juice Boosts Bone Health
• Oranges are rich in citrus limonoids, proven to help fight a number of varieties of cancer including that of the skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.
• Aromatherapists say that the sweet orange can help fight colds and the flu. 
• Orange Juice (mixed with Blackcurrant Juice) Reduces Inflammation
• Orange Juice Boosts Weight Loss
• Orange Juice May Dissolve Kidney Stones
• Orange Juice Extract Suppresses Prostate Proliferation   
• Some people use bitter orange flower and its oil for general feebleness, “tired blood” (anemia), impurities of the skin, hair loss, cancer, frostbite, and as a tonic   
• The bitter orange flower and bitter orange oil are used for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders including ulcers in the intestine, constipation, diarrhea, blood in feces, drooping (prolapsed) anus or rectum, and intestinal gas. 
• Bitter orange peel is applied to the skin for swelling (inflammation) of the eyelid and its lining, as well as the retina in the eye. It is also used for bleeding from the retina, exhaustion accompanying colds, headaches, nerve pain, muscular pain, joint pain, bruises, swelling of the veins (phlebitis), and bed sores.

• Orange flower water, made in Italy and France as a cologne, is bitter and considered antispasmodic and sedative.
• A decoction of the dried leaves and flowers is given in Italy as an antispasmodic, cardiac sedative, antiemetic, digestive and remedy for flatulence.
• The inner bark, macerated and infused in wine, is taken as a tonic and carminative
• A vinous decoction of husked orange seeds is prescribed for urinary ailments in China and the juice of fresh orange leaves or a decoction of the dried leaves may be taken as a carminative or emmenagogue or applied on sores and ulcers.  
• An orange seed extract is given as a treatment for malaria in Ecuador but it is known to cause respiratory depression and a strong contraction of the spleen. 
• Banishes pneumonia. -That's three oranges or less than two glasses of orange juice a day. 

Soil Type

Citrus will grow in most soils from sandy to adobe clay, provided it drains well. Sandy soils must be watered and fertilized more frequently than soils with a higher clay content and growers can add organic matter such as manure or compost to improve water and nutrient holding abilities.

Irrigating and Fertilizing

Water quality is very important. Water high in salt content, common in some desert regions, can cause injury to leaves, burning leaf tips and margins. Lower levels of salts can cause the tree to grow poorly or to produce fewer or smaller fruit.
Nutrients that citrus needs in relatively large amounts are nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur and calcium. In lesser amounts, citrus requires iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, boron and chlorine. In California and Arizona soils, usually only nitrogen must be added, most often in late winter to meet the demands of spring bloom.

Pruning

Unlike most other fruit trees, citrus trees don't require regular pruning. Commercial growers trim tree tops to keep them smaller so they are easier, safer and less expensive to pick, and "hedge" the sides to let more sunlight into the trees to improve yields. Hand pruning opens up the trees to allow more sunlight into the center.

Orange Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh spinach
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• few drops of stevia
• Tamari or Braggs to taste
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, roasted till golden
• 2 mandarin orange sections

Directions:
1.    Wash and trim spinach; pat dry with paper towels.
2.    Combine lemon juice, oil, stevia and Tamari or Braggs in large bowl; add avocado cubes, coating well with the dressing.
3.    Toss spinach and walnuts with avocado and dressing.
4.    Add mandarin orange sections and toss spinach salad again.

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

Liliana Usvat: Strange Trees Cannon ball tree or Couroupita guianensis Medicinal Uses

Liliana Usvat: Strange Trees Cannon ball tree or Couroupita guianensis Medicinal Uses

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.

Rreforestation with Rhododendron and Medicinal Uses of the Plant

By Liliana Usvat
Blog147 -365

The name Rhododendron comes from the greek words "rodon" which means "rose" and "dendron" which means "tree", hence Rose Tree.

Rhododendrons are referred to as the King of Shrubs since they are regarded by many as the best flowering evergreen plants for the temperate landscape. 
 
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1,000 species of woody plants in the heath family, either evergreen or deciduous. Most species have showy flowers.

Azaleas make up two subgenera of Rhododendron. They are distinguished from "true" rhododendrons by having only five anthers per flower.

Distribution

Species of the genus Rhododendron are native to Asia, North America, Europe and Australia. The highest species diversity is found in the Himalayas from Uttarakhand, Nepal and Sikkim to Yunnan and Sichuan, with other significant areas of diversity in the mountains of Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Rhododendron lives on moist open slopes, hillsides, ledges of cliffs and in thickets at elevations of 3000 - 4500, occasionally to 5000 metres.

Culinary

The rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal, where the flower is considered edible and enjoyed for its sour taste. The pickled flower can last for months and the flower juice is also marketed. The flower, fresh or dried, is added to fish curry in the belief that it will soften the bones. The juice of rhododendron flower is used to make a squash called burans(named after the flower)in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. It is admired for its distinctive flavor and color.

The flowers are used as a tea substitute.

Basic Requirements
 

1. Rhododendrons must have a constant supply of moisture. 
2. Rhododendrons must never sit in stagnant water. Roots submerged in poorly oxygenated water will likely die, though a plant may survive through better drained surface roots. 
3. Rhododendrons must be grown in an acid medium (pH 5-6) that is coarse enough for the roots to have access to needed oxygen.
4. Plant Rhododendrons in spring or fall.
5. Space plants 2 to 6 feet apart, depending on the expected mature size of the plant.Dig a hole only as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide.
6. Rhododendrons need an acidic soil. If your soil is in very poor condition, amend the soil you've removed from the hole with a small amount of compost. 

History

The first species available for garden use , in the mid-1600s, was R. hirsutum, the hairy alpine rose, which may grow as high as 1 metre (3 feet). Others range from matlike dwarf species only 10 cm (4 inches) high (R. prostratum, from Yunnan, China) to trees in excess of 12 metres (R. arboreum, R. barbatum, and R. giganteum, from Asia). Leaves are thick and leathery and are evergreen in all but the azalea species, some of which are deciduous.

Large-leaved species (and their hybrids) from the Himalayan region have long been popular ornamental plants in temperate areas without extreme winter cold. Rhodora (R. canadense), from northeastern North America, bears rose-purple flowers before the leaves unfurl. In the British Isles, R. ponticum has become a serious weed. Introduced in the late 18th century from Spain, Portugal, and, to a lesser extent, Turkey, this rhododendron forms impenetrable thickets in which virtually nothing else grows.

Medicinal uses

(anthopogon hypenanthum)

The stems and leaves of the sub-species R. anthopogon hypenanthum are used in Tibetan herbalism. They have a sweet, bitter and astringent taste and they promote heat. They are

• antitussive, 
• diaphoretic and 
•  digestive and are used to 
• treat lack of appetite, 
• coughing and 
• various skin disorders. 
• In Nepal, the leaves are boiled and the vapour inhaled to treat coughs and colds.  
• The flowers of the sub-species R. anthopogon hypenanthum are also used in Tibetan medicine, having a sweet taste and neutral potency. They are
•  antitussive, 
• febrifuge and 
• tonic, being used in the 
• treatment of inflammations,
•  lung disorders and 
• general weakening of the body. 
• They are also used when water and locality are not agreeable due to a change of environment.

( Rhododendron arboreum)

• Rhododendron arboreum’s nectar is brewed to make wine and is effective in diarrhoea and dysentery. Its Corolla is administered in case of fishbone stuck in the gullet. Snuff made from the bark of the tree is excellent cold reliever. Young leaves can be processed into paste and applied on the forehead to alleviate headaches.

    (Rhdodendron_campanulatum)

• Rhdodendron campanulatum is also used as snuff and is effective in case of cold and hermicrania. Also the species is used in curing chronic rheumatism, syphilis. The dried twigs and wood are used by Nepalese against phthisis and chronic fever. On being burnt its smoke causes irritation.

   (Rhododendron cinnabarium)

• Rhododendron cinnabarium is used in making flavoring agents, jam etc. The fried corolla of the species is liked by local inhabitants in Sikkim which taste delicacy while it is poisonous to animals.

  (Rhododendron setosum)

• Rhododendron setosum is used in making of aromatic oil, perfumery and cosmetics.

 

  (Rhododendron_thomsonii)

• Extract from the Rhododendron thomsonii is used as natural insecticides as in valley of North Sikkim, while it is toxic/poisonous to human beings.
• Rusty-leaved rhododendron contains chemicals that lower blood pressure.
•  It also contains chemicals that interfere with the electrical activity of nerves, which at low doses might relieve pain associated with some conditions, but at higher doses can result in poisoning.
• Despite serious safety concerns, rusty-leaved rhododendron is used in combination with other herbs for painful conditions such as gout, muscle and joint pain (rheumatism), nerve pain (neuralgia), sciatica, face pain (trigeminal neuralgia), muscle pain, migraine, headaches, and rib pain.

Religious
Rhododendron lepidotum and Rhododendron anthopogum’s leaves are used as incense in Buddhist Monasteries. The flowers are used as offerings to pay homage and for decoration purpose at social occasions.

Reforestation using Rhododendron

Rhododendron can be uses in reforestation and stimulate local economy trough echo tourism.

Liliana Usvat: Sacred Trees - Banyan Trees- Wish Fulfilling Tree - Medicinal Uses

Liliana Usvat: Sacred Trees - Banyan Trees- Wish Fulfilling Tree - Medicinal Uses

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.

Liliana Usvat: Tree Ferns

Liliana Usvat: Tree Ferns

Fern Tree

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 143 -365

Tree ferns are perfect for what may be your more difficult garden areas because they prefer shady, sheltered and moist locations.
Tree ferns do like neutral to acidic humus-rich soil, so our alkaline rocky gardens might need supplementing, preferably with compost. To encourage root growth, avoid fertilizing your fern during its first year.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/30/3531442/tree-ferns-bring-tropical-australia.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/30/3531442/tree-ferns-bring-tropical-australia.html#storylink=cpy

  Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has many on display, including the Australian tree fern ( Cyathea cooperi), Hawaiian tree fern (Cibotium glaucom), Mexican tree fern (C. schiedei), Caribbean tree fern (Cyathea arborea) and the rare native Florida tree fern (Ctenitis sloanei).



Australian tree ferns can grow to about 20 to 30 feet tall and 10 to15 feet wide. Trunks can grow to about one foot in diameter. They are usually inexpensive, so if you have the proper space, try growing one of these lacy, languid plants

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/30/3531442/tree-ferns-bring-tropical-australia.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/30/3531442/tree-ferns-bring-tropical-australia.html#storylink=cpy

In general, any fern that grows with a trunk elevating the fronds (leaves) above ground level can be called a tree fern. However, the plants formally known as tree ferns comprise a group of large ferns belonging to the families Dicksoniaceae and Cyatheaceae in the order Cyatheales.



Tree ferns are found growing in tropical and subtropical areas, as well as temperate rainforests in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and other island groups nearby; a few genera extend further, such as Culcita in southern Europe. Like all ferns, tree ferns reproduce by means of spores developed in sporangia on the undersides of the fronds.

The number of tree fern species is likely to be around a thousand. Although new species are discovered in New Guinea with each botanical survey, many species throughout its range have become extinct in the last century as forest habitats have come under pressure from human activity.

Ferns - Medicinal uses in New Guinea

Fevers, headaches, colds, etc.: Blackwood (1935) mentions that in Bougainville, Selaginella flabellata is used to control feverish headaches and menstruation. The leaves are applied externally and the roots taken internally. In the Mt Hagen area the petiole sap of the common bracken Pteridium aquilinum is used to treat toothache and mouth infections (Powell 1976b). For colds Cyclosorus leaves are used in the Northern Province and for nasal infections the smoke of a species of Polypodium (=?) is inhaled in Mt Hagen (Powell 1976b).

Boils, ulcers, wounds: In east New Britain, Futscher (1959) reports Gleichenia linearis (=Dicranopteris linearis) being bound externally onto wounds. On Bougainville, Blackwood (1935) reports the leaves of Pteris ensiformis and Aspidium latifolium (=Pronephrium menisciicarpon, but possibly a species of Tectaria) and the leaves and roots of Dryopteris milneana being applied to boils, ulcers and arrow wounds. The last two species are probably misidentified. Holdsworth (1980) gives a review of Blackwood's medicinal plant results. In the Northern Province a species of Athyrium  is used to treat sores and in New Britain a poultice of boiled fronds of a species of Cyclosorus is used for the same purpose (Powell 1976b). Hot fronds of a species of Polystichum are applied to groin swellings in the Mt Hagen area (Powell 1976b). In Morobe Province, a poultice is prepared from Pityrogramma calomelanos for an unspecified purpose 

Stomach pains: Holdsworth & Giheno (1975) record that a species of Lycopodium is chewed in the central highlands to induce vomiting after food poisoning or acute stomach pain. For stomach ache and diarrhoea, in the eastern highlands they report the chewing of fresh fronds of Lygodium longifolium with ash salt ( from Asplenium acrobryum or from the grass Coix gigantea).

Menstruation, childbirth, contraception: Pteris tripartita is used in childbirth in Bougainville, the fronds being taken internally. Pteris ensiformis is used to control menstruation, as is Selaginella flabellata. Lygodium dichotomum is used as a contraceptive, the root and stem being taken internally; it is also used to treat children's illnesses (Blackwood 1935). Peekel (1910) records a species of Dryopteris (most likely to be a species of Thelypteridaceae) being used in New Ireland as an abortifacient (Holdsworth, Hurley & Rayner 1979), however he does not mention the species in his illustrated flora of the island (Peekel in press, ms. completed c. 1947). In the Koiari area of the central province of Papua New Guinea Holdsworth et al. (1980b) note that total sterility in women can be achieved by eating the new leaves of Blechnum orientale each day for three successive days, waiting a fortnight and then repeating the treatment.

Diseases: Holdsworth (1974) reports that on Dobu Island in the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago, a sorcerer claims to cure leprosy with a draught prepared by shaking the crushed leaf of a species of Lygodium in water.

Native uses: According to Gunther: Rhizome is roasted by the Makah, peeled, chewed and the juice swallowed for coughs; Cowlitz crush the rhizome, mix it with young fir needles, boil it, and drink the infusion for measles; the Quinault either bake the root on coals or use it raw as a cough medicine. Chewed for flavour and used as medicine for colds and sore throats; also used with bitter medicine as a sweetener (Pojar). Method: Strong Decoction from rhizomes, 2-4 ozs, up to 3x daily (Moore); make Licorice
syrup by adding honey to the decoction (Tierra).

Cherokee used Maidenhair for rheumatism (the effect on contracted muscles likened to the uncurling fiddleheads)- the compound decoction or decoction of root applied with warm hands as external rub, or infusion internally.  Infusion or decoction of whole plant was used as an emetic for fever and ague (fever with chills).

Powdered leaves are smoked for heart trouble and snuffed or smoked for asthma.  They used it for paralytic attacks, as from pneumonia in children.  Sacred preparation of whole plant was used specifically for women’s irregular heartbeat.

Cherokee considered Maidenshair a powerful medicine for the heart, and as such it is associated with the direction of East. 

Costanoan of California used the decoction to purify the blood and for stomach troubles.

Hesquiat of western Canada mixed the ashes in formula for shortness of breath, and to produce strength and endurance.  They likewise used the green fronds.

The northwestern Makah chewed the fronds for weak stomach.

Menomini (Wild Rice People) used a compound decoction of the root for dysentery.
They used the blade, stem, and root in gynecology. 

Micmac, Algonquian of eastern Canada, used in decoction for fits.
Potawatomi of the upper Mississippi River used an infusion of the root for caked breasts.
Natives applied poultice of plant to sore back of babies.  Wet fronds poulticed for snakebite.

• Decoction used as wash for venereal disease such as gonorrhea.  
• Used topically by Native Americans as a poultice or wash for bleeding,
•  insect stings, 
• snakebites,
•  arthritis, and 
• for hair. 

• Hesquiat use of Maidenhair for endurance played out in ceremonial dancing, for which the infusion would be used, especially in winter, to prevent fatigue.
• Such uses along with the sacred preparation practiced by the Cherokee indicate that this beautiful fern was regarded as a sacred medicine.  
• Additionally, the black stems of Maidenhair were used by Potawatomi as a hunting charm.
• The subspecies pedatum was used by the Iroquois for children’s cramps, as decoction.
• A compound decoction of the green roots used as a foot soak for rheumatism and taken internally.
• Decoction of pedantum roots taken as a diuretic for the cessation of urine due to stones.
• Compound decoction or infusion taken for excessive menstruation.  
• Decoction of roots used to bring on menses and for abortion.  
• Plant used for abortion or delivery pains. 
  

• Therefore, Maidenhair is anti-rheumatic, emetic,  diaphoretic,  cardiotonic,  stimulant,  alterative,  astringent, antispasmodic, emenagogue, and antiseptic.  Energetically, Maidenhair appears dry and cool, with an affinity for the heart and reproductive system.

• Iroquois used subspecies virginianum as a cough medicine for tuberculosis as cold infusion of root.  Botrychium virginianum    RATTLESNAKE FERN

• The Algonquian (northeast) Abnaki used as a demulcent and for children’s medicine.  Cherokee used root decoction as emetic and as concentrated syrup for external use on snakebites (including from dream snakes), and used the juice from the frond for insect bites and stings.   Botrychium virginianum    RATTLESNAKE FERN

• Chippewa used a poultice of fresh root for snakebite and as a repellant.  Chicksaw (southwest) used as a diaphoretic and expectorant, and the root decoction as emetic.  Ojibwa used for lung trouble, such as tuberculosis; and used the poulticed root on cuts.  Potawatomi also used medicinally. 
• Cherokee used in compound infusion for chills.  
• Mahuna used for lung hemorrhages.  Dennstaedtia punctilobula    HAY-SCENTED FERN
• Dryopteris campyloptera    MOUNTAIN WOOD FERN  Cherokee used with tree bark for cuts and other skin problems.  Considered medicine of the South.
• Dryopteris campyloptera    MOUNTAIN WOOD FERNInuits used leaves in compound decoction for stomachache and intestinal discomfort.  Hesquiat used young shoots for cancer of the womb. 

Native American medicinal uses of ferns can be categorized into five major groups:  those used 

• for rheumatism, 
• those used for the lungs, 
• those used for gynecology, 
• those used for the blood, and
•  those used for digestion. 

Ferns used for Rheumatism

• Maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) used for rheumatism.
• Marginal Wood Fern(Dryopteris marginalis) used for rheumatism.
• Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) used for arthritis.
• Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) used externally for rheumatism and internally for joint pain.
• Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) used for rheumatism.
• Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) used for rheumatism.

Ferns used for Lungs

• Maidenhair smoked for asthma.
• Maidenhair Speenwort (Asplenium tricomanes) used for coughs.
• Rattlesnake Fern (Botrychium virginianum) used as a cough medicine for tuberculosis.
• Hay-scented Fern (Dennstaedtia penctilobula) used for chills and lung hemorrhages.
• Rock Cap (Polyopdium virginianum) used for sore throat, colds, measles, tuberculosis, cough, and lung congestion.
• Christmas Fern used for chills, fever, pneumonia, red spots on skin, listlessness, tuberculosis, and hoarseness.
• Bracken Fern used for tuberculosis, infections, and chest pain.

Ferns used for Gynecology (including menstrual, postpartum, and breastfeeding)

• Walking Fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum) used topically and as emetic for swollen breasts.
• Maidenhair Speenwort used for irregular menses and breast diseases.
• Lady Fern (Athyrium filis-femina)used for mothers with intestinal fevers and to prevent water breaking.
• Mountain Wood Fern (Dryopteris campyloptera) used for disease of the womb.
• Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) used as decoction of sterile leaf stalk base for the expulsion of afterbirth and for back pain.
• Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) used for infection, blood disorders (blood deficiency, cold in the blood, and others), and to restore the female system after childbirth.  Externally used for sores. 
• Cinnamon Fern used for women’s troubles, caked breasts, and malaise.
• Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana) used for weak blood and gonorrhea.
• Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis) used for menstrual problems. 
• Bracken Fern used for weak blood, uterine prolapse, suffering after birth, caked breast, weakness, and headaches. 
• Marsh Fern (Thelypteris palustris)used as a gynecological medicine.

Ferns used for the Blood

• Maidenhair used as a wash or poultice for bleeding.
• Lady Fern used for vomiting of blood.
• Hay-scented Fern used for lung hemorrhages.
• Sensitive Fern used for blood deficiency, cold in the blood, and other blood disorders.
• Christmas Fern used for weak blood and toxic blood.
• Interrupted Fern used for weak blood.
• Bracken Fern used to make good blood after menses or childbirth. 

Ferns used for Digestion (including stomachache and parasites)

• Mountain Wood Fern used for stomachache.
• Crested Wood Fern (Dryopteris cristata) used root infusion for stomach trouble.
• Royal Fern used for intestinal worms. 
• Rock Cap used for stomachaches and cholera.
• Christmas Fern used for stomachache, bowel problems, toothache, cramps, and diarrhea. 
• Bracken Fern used for diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, infections, diarrhea, weakness, stomach cramps, and headaches.
• Sensitive Fern used for intestinal troubles.

Other uses of Tree Ferns

Australian tree fern is a popular ornamental in temperate areas. The pith from the centre of the trunk is rich in starch, and was once used as food by Tasmanian Aborigines. The uncurled leaves (croziers) are also edible, but have a slimy, sometimes bitter taste. The trunks are often used as a medium for growing epiphytes, particularly orchids. Trunks can also be used for fencing, while the central vascular material has been dried and carved to make craft items such as bowls and plant pots.

Papaya Tree Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 142 -365

Papaya is an amazingly delicious fruit referred to as ‘fruits of angels’.

Papaya, Paw Paw, Papaw, Tree Melon (botanical name Carica papaya), it has oblong shape, normally greenish yellow, yellow or orange color. It is a large tree plant fruit usually reaching 2.5kg. It has bitter sweet taste and comes from tropical places with higher humidity, native to Mexico, countries of Central America, Thailand, Africa and Asia and growing well in Australia.

Health Benefits
 

• Papaya fruit is and excellent source of dietary fiber, folate, vitamin A, C and E. It also contains small amount of calcium, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and niacine. It is also very rich in antioxidant nutrients flavonoids and carotenes, very high in vitamin C plus A, and low in calories and sodium.
• Eating paw paw after a meal makes for better digestion, prevents bloating and chronic indigestion. 
• It can also lower the inflammation in the body, 
• alleviates the pain and edema caused by sport injuries. 
• Because of its anti-inflammatory properties papaya can relieve the severity of Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 
• Because of its high antioxidant content, papaya can prevent cholesterol oxidation and can be use in a preventative treatments against atherosclerosis, 
• strokes, 
•  heart attacks and 
• diabetic heart disease.
• strengthening the immune system 
• preventing the recurrent colds and flu.
• eating paw paw or drinking its juice replenishes the good intestinal bacteria, which was destroyed by the antibiotic treatment.
• Papain is proteolitic enzyme, which means that it digests inert (non-living) proteins. Intestinal parasites are largely protein, the papain attacks it and causes parasite to die.  
• home applications of leaf and bark papaya extract is used to deal with mouth gums and toothaches which is being effectively practised in many cultures around the world
• Papain is also being studied for relief of cancer therapy side effects, especially relieving side effects such as difficulty swallowing and mouth sores after radiation and chemotherapy
• Increases quality of proteins in whole organism.
• Revitalize the human body and maintain energy and vitality.
• Encourages the renewal of muscle tissue.
• Supports cardiovascular system.
• Boosts up the immune system.
• Helps with the digestive system, by breaking down the proteins and supporting production of digestive enzymes.
• Papaya can be use also externally as a treatment for skin wounds that don’t heal quickly, for this you can use papaya peel or ointments made out of papaya.
• Prevents the cataract formation.
• Due to high vitamin A, it lowers the risk of emphysema in smokers and passive smokers.
• Alleviates inflammation.
• Helps with the nausea and constipation.
• Can benefit people suffering colon cancer and other forms of cancers and aliments of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems.
• Papaya is frequently used as a hair conditioner, but should be used in small amounts.
• Laboratory studies have also shown that papaya seeds have contraceptive effects in adult male langur monkeys, and possibly in adult male humans.
• Papaya juice has an in vitro antiproliferative effect on liver cancer cells
• In some parts of the world, papaya leaves are made into tea as a treatment for malaria.
• papaya may be used as a medicine for dengue fever
•  Papain is also applied topically for the treatment of cuts, rashes, stings and burns.Papain ointment is commonly made from fermented papaya flesh, and is applied as a gel-like paste
• Women in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other countries have long used green papaya as an herbal medicine for contraception and abortion. Enslaved women in the West Indies were noted for consuming papaya to prevent pregnancies and thus preventing their children from being born into slavery.
• Juice from papaya roots is used in some countries of Asia to ease urianry troubles. 
• Papaya leaf when dried and cured like a cigar, is smoked by asthmatic persons.
• The dried seeds when pounded and mixed with vinegar can be used as a skin irritant to lower fever.
• A decoction formed by boiling the outer part of the roots of the papaya tree in the cure of dyspepsia.
• Ripe papaya fruit is laxative. If you take papaya fruit regularly in your diet , you assured of regular bowel movement which is good essential to daily disposition.
• An infusion of fresh papaya leaves is used by person to expel or destroy intestinal worms.
• papaya leaves also works as a cure for menstrual pain. You can take papaya leaf, tamarind and salt along with water that is helpful in frequent pain in women menstruation cycle.
• prevents blood clots
  
  
  
  
    Papaia Flower
  
  

Culinary  Practices

• The black seeds of the papaya are edible and have a sharp, spicy taste. They are sometimes ground and used as a substitute for black pepper.

Papaia Flower

• In some parts of Asia, the young leaves of the papaya are steamed and eaten like spinach.
• In Thai cuisine, papaya is used to make Thai salads such as som tam and Thai curries such as kaeng som when still not fully ripe. In Indonesian cuisine, the unripe green fruits and young leaves are boiled for use as part of lalab salad, while the flower buds are sautéed and stir-fried with chillies and green tomatoes as Minahasan papaya flower vegetable dish.