Thursday, February 27, 2014
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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.
The flowers are used as a tea substitute.
Basic Requirements
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
( Rhododendron arboreum)
(Rhdodendron_campanulatum)
(Rhododendron cinnabarium)
(Rhododendron setosum)
(Rhododendron_thomsonii)
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.
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
- Rhododendrons must have a constant supply of moisture.
- 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.
- Rhododendrons must be grown in an acid medium (pH 5-6) that is coarse enough for the roots to have access to needed oxygen.
- Plant Rhododendrons in spring or fall.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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