Posts Tagged ‘Trees’

The Trees of Kerala

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Trees of Kerala are found in forests, villages and even in cityscapes. Trees provide food, medicine, timber and firewood. The medicinal value of trees and tree products were studied many centuries ago. Again, India’s is a culture that acknowledge the importance of trees.

Coconut palm is the most common tree in Kerala, which followed by rubber trees. Coconut tree is the national tree of Kerala and is considered a kalpa vriksha or a tree that can grand any wish.

Certain types of trees are so medicinal and beneficial that a cot made from the timber of the tree too is considered beneficial to human body. When made such a cot, it usually has timber from different types of trees joined together.

Teak timber from Kerala was once used to make ships of major sizes. A walk through the forests of Kerala gets one closer to many types of rare trees, along with rare flora and fauna.

Amherstia (Amherstia nobilis) -Trees of India

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Amherstia (Amherstia nobilis) also known as orchid tree or queen of flowering trees is a rare fauna in Indian forests. It is also found in countries like Burma, where it is known as pride of Burma. The flowers are red, bright and attractive.

Areca (Areca catechu) -Trees of India

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Areca Nut (Areca catechu) is a palm tree grown extensively in India, mainly for the production of betel nut and for the purpose of the wood for specific building purposes.

Arecanut (also betel nut) is chewed with betel leaves, a piece of tobacco and some lime for a stimulating effect. The mixture turns dark red by chewing and stains the mouth. The practice of betel nut chewing is not as regular as it had once been. The practice is addictive and can pose health risks including chances of cancer.

The tree grows straight up to about 30 m with no braches and with a crown of a few leaves. The base of the leaf covers the tree at a length of 1-1.5 meters, which part, when fallen down with died leaves is used as a temporary plate, and for making such things like basket. Now, natural fibre plates too are manufactured from this part, which in Malayalam is called a ‘pola’ pronounces “po-h-la” l as in the words call and fall.

The trunk of the tree is used for different purposes like making the framework for tile or coconut leaf thatched roof. It loses its strength if it gets moisture. If kept away from moisture, the straight long wood is strong and stable for almost any furniture purpose.

Athi (Ficus glomerata) -Trees of India

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Athi (Ficus glomerata) is a big tree in the family of ficus trees, which has various applications in Ayurveda medicines.

The decoction prepared from the bark of the tree is used in the treatment of syphilis. It is also used in the treatment of some 50 diseases. The application can either be internal or external.

In parts of north India, this tree has auspicious position and forms a major part of worship and religious festivals. The tree is abundant in northern plains. It is also common in southern parts, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu where it is known as Athi (atti, Atthi, Aththi). Planting of this tree in domestic property is not auspicious.

Banyan (Ficus bengalensis) -Trees of India

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Banyan (Ficus bengalensis) is a sacred tree for Hindus of India.

Learning more about the tree is very intriguing and fascinating. The tree produces a fruit the size of an Indian gooseberry, which has thousands of seeds. That is the seeds are the size of tiny granules. The tree starts its life on another tree, where the ficus depends on the host tree for support, nutrition and sunlight. It eventually takes over the host tree, literally squeezing the host tree to extinction.

The branches produce auxillary roots, which reach the ground, become a pillar like support to the tree. This continues exponentially and a single tree will spreads to around a whole area, resembling a small forest.

The biggest of Banyan (peral in Malayalam and Bo in Sinhalese) can be located at Sri Lanka, south of India. This particular banyan tree has 350 large auxiliary trunks and 3,000 small ones. Another one (named Pillala Marri), aged above 700 years is also located at Manhub Nagar, 100 km from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh in India. The tree covers an area of 3 acres.

The canopy also gives good shade. The shade of a banyan tree is usually the meeting ground for merchants. Banyan, in Gujarati (the language of Indian state, Gujarat) means a merchant. Village meetings too are held below this tree.

It is believed that the tree can absorb lightning and protect those below it. The leaves also are thought to give out freshest oxygen, especially in the morning.

The bark of the tree, especially from the auxiliary trunks is used in some Ayurvedic medicines.

Burmese Pink Cassia (Cassia renigera) -Trees of India

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

The Burmese pink cassia (Cassia renigera) is a typical tropical ‘shower’ tree. The tree grows to a height of up to 10 meters, spreads foliage rich branches to all sides. The tree produces bunches of bright pink flowers that cover the tree almost entirely. Pink cassia is also called pink shower.

Burmese pink cassia is a beautiful ornamental tree fit for garden and as avenue trees.

Though names Burmese pink cassia, the tree is found widely in India, and almost all tropical regions of the world. Pink cassia trees grow quickly and will be in full bloom in four to five years. The leaves fall off with the beginning of flowering season. The flowering season immediately precedes monsoon season and wraps the tree with a pink blanket. The flowers fall away at the beginning of rains.

Flame of the Forest (Butea Monosperma) -Trees of India

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Flame of the forest (butea monosperma) is a quick growing tree that bears bright red flowers. It is also known as ‘bastard teak’, Butea gum tree, etc and is usable as an Ayurvedic medicine. The Sanskrit name is Palasa.

The bark of butea tree secretes red resin, known as butea gum, which is used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery etc.

The tree is also usable as a timber.

Cheru Narakam (Citrus Limon) -Trees of Kerala

Saturday, March 24th, 2007

Cheru narakam (Citrus limon) is the common citrus lemon which is commonly used in lemonades and for pickling.

The lemon tree produces small fleshy fruits, which gives a sour-tasting juice. Citric acid is the component that gives the sour taste.

This perennial tree grows 10-20 ft high. Stem and branches bear thorns and dark green aromatic leaves.

It has carminative properties and can be regarded as an Ayurvedic herb too. It acts against such diseases like scurvy.

Citrus limon belongs to the family Rutaceae.

The Climbing Palas (Butea superba) -Trees of India

Friday, March 23rd, 2007

The climbing palas (Butea superba) is a fast growing wild tree that produces bright red flowers.

Butea superba is believed to have aphrodisiac properties and sexual enhancing properties beneficial for both men and women. The extracts from tuber are taken for such sexual enhancer products.

Coconut Tree (Cocus nucifera) -Trees of Kerala

Friday, March 23rd, 2007

Coconut (Cocus nucifera) is the most grown tree in Kerala. Apart from many hundreds of plantations, there are also coconut palms in almost all homes of Kerala. Coconut trees however are not abundant in the colder areas of high-ranges. It is found abundantly in the coastal to central regions. This tree grows straight up without branches and with an umbrella like crown, with several large leaves spread from the top.

The tree requires abundant rainfall and tolerates the high salinity of sea shores.

Though the fruit is called coconut, it is not a nut. It is a dry, fibrous drupe. The husk protects the internal part, which is hard like stone. Inside the hard stone is the usable part of coconut, which is scientifically called endosperm. The white meat of coconut is edible and used in the preparation of almost all kinds of dishes in Kerala. Inside the endosperm is a large area, filled with water in unripe coconut. As the coconut becomes ripe, the most of the water gets absorbed by the fruit and only a little water remains. Tender coconut water drinking is a new fad among the people of Kerala. There are different advantages for this natural healthy drink. It is suggested for people with dysentery, vomiting etc as a means to prevent dehydration. It is also cool, energetic and refreshing.

Every part of coconut tree is useful in different ways. The fiber from the coconut husk is used to make coir, mats etc. Coconut leaves are used for thatching. The wood is good for furniture. All dried parts make good firewood.

That is why this tree is called the Kalpavriksham (an auspicious tree that can give anything you ask) of Kerala. For India, the kalpavriksha is Banyan (Ficus bengalensis).

Cocos nucifera belongs to the family Arecaceae.

Friday, March 23rd, 2007

ColvilleÂ’s glory (Colvillea racemosa) is a deciduous flowering tree that reaches the height of about 15 m and bears rich orange colored flowers, mainly during winter.

The tip of the branches bear several bunches of orange to red flowers that appear hanging from the tip. The flowers give ColvilleÂ’s glory the bright colorful feel during summer. The tree prefers sunny climate.