ThursdayTreeLove – Page 10

24/10/201922/07/2020

Hidden Gem (ThursdayTreeLove)

I have read about Flower Remedies by Dr Bach. I will not go into details of that therapy but suffice to say, I came across names of all European trees. Among these was the Larch which is a remedy for under confident people who actually have huge potential. A “hidden gem” as it were.
I found it works magically and I have seen a great transformation in a person who was prescribed Larch.

Since then, seeing the Larch has been a top priority for me. I find it difficult to distinguish between conifers. Their needle like leaves are too high up to see their arrangement on the branches. Maybe I take the easy way out and wait for someone to tell me!

And then my wait was over. We saw this great tall majestic Larch which grew along the road up to the castle at Bled in Slovenia. Seeing that huge dominating tree, I sort of understood how it gave its strength via the Bach Flower Remedy.

First sight of the Larch

This image taken from a higher spot but the tree still towered over me

Larch belongs to the Larix genus of the Pinanceae family. Despite being a conifer, it is deciduous and the needles turn a glorious golden in autumn and can be seen from a distance. I noticed they have pendulous branches.

This image is of a Larch from another place at the end of winter hence branching is visible.

I must mention here that, at Bled, for the first time in my travels, I met a guide who knew about Trees, their botanical names, habitats etc. She was happy to share info about ‘her’ trees and even helped id some images from my cell phone. At one point, our walk threatened to become a tree walk and I stopped before my co-travellers protested!

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

10/10/201922/07/2020

Drooping Beauty (ThursdayTreeLove)

In the book The Wisdom of Trees, I came across these words attributed to John Stewart Collis ” Truly trees are beings. We feel that to be so. Hence their silence, their indifference to us is almost exasperating.”

Sitting near this wonderful Willow, I felt so peaceful and calm yet I am not sure the tree even felt my presence or even cared!

Either way, being near it gave me immeasurable joy!

Have you felt this way?

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Head over to see some amazing trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

P.S. Willows belong to the Salix genus of the Salicaceae family. They grow in moist soils and are dioecious (meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate plants). The drooping branches make them amazingly graceful! While willows are rare in Pune, I saw plenty of them in Bhutan, and Central and eastern Europe. This lovely tree was growing in the garden of our hotel in Warsaw.

26/09/201922/07/2020

Glorious Ficus (ThursdayTreeLove)

The lilac coloured Jacarandas at the Punakha Dzong in Bhutan are very famous but today I want to share a glorious Ficus from this beautiful Dzong. I found it as impressive and breathtaking as the beautiful Dzong which is its home.

Here are a few images, they speak for themselves.

Here is a small video of the tree that captures the wind talking to the leaves!

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove Bloghop. Do head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

12/09/201922/07/2020

Bingo (ThursdayTreeLove)

Today, I will share a story spread over five months… a story of identifying a tree …

It all began in February when I was temporarily staying at a new area and my morning walks took me to a local garden. As is my habit, I mentally named the trees but one particular species (and there were at least six full grown trees) was especially challenging. It had a lovely buttressed trunk, glossy green leaves and round lemon-sized fruit.

This glorious green tree had me staring at it every day!

See the green fruits

I kept racking my brains, googled the images but no luck. My usual reference books were not available to me. Finally, inspiration struck and I narrowed down a possible ID to Rudraksha. The leaf structure seemed to match perfectly…

In the absence of flowers, there was a way to confirm.. check the seed.
While earlier there were plenty of fruits on the walkway, suddenly I could not find any.. Being end of Pune winters, most trees were shedding their dry dead foliage. The cleaning staff used to clear the area before I reached. .. I even checked the mound of collected dead leaves in case I could get a fruit..

Then I changed my walk time and got lucky. There was a fruit just waiting for me ..
I picked it up and almost ran back home to cut it open…
Bingo… the typical Rudraksha seed smiled at me!!!

The fruit that escaped the broom!

Fruit and Leaf .. can you see the forked lateral vein?

The unmistakable Rudraksha seed

I was thrilled and shared these images with all and sundry! What is most amazing is that local authorities had planted such a beautiful tree in a small park.

Next, I had to wait for the flowers. Come June, I was rewarded with the first buds but they took more than 3 weeks to bloom. And when they did, the trees looked absolutely glorious.. the tiny white frilly flowers amid glowing green leaves.

Have you seen the Rudraksha tree?
I have not yet identified the exact species but this is definitely the Eleaocarpus genus of the Elaeocarpaceae family. According to the Flowers of India website, a species is found in the western ghats, central and south Sahyadris. Rudraksha is revered by many and is said to have huge medicinal value.

Hope you enjoyed my story.

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some amazing trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

22/08/201922/07/2020

Green (ThursdayTreeLove)

The beautiful green trunk of this tree just stopped me in my tracks.. This was a few years ago in Phoenix, Arizona. Help was at hand in the form of a small board with the tree id.

This is the Palo Verde – a tree belonging to the Fabaceae family and belongs to the Cercidium genus. Chorophyll present in the bark gives it the green colour (as does it in leaves). And yes, you are right, for this reason, the bark of the Palo Verde also produces food by photosynthesis as do its leaves. I guess, this is a plant adaptation for growing in region with high temperatures.

I remember we had learnt in school that, in desert plants like Cacti, leaves turn into spines to limit water loss and the green fleshy stem takes over the job of photosynthesis (food production).

As I have said time and again, travelling is a great way to see history and culture of a new place, monuments and importantly, to see and enjoy its Flora as well!

Do you notice trees and plants during your travels?

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove Blog hop. Do head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

08/08/201922/07/2020

Surprise (ThursdayTreeLove)

For some inexplicable reason, I was under the impression that only trees in the Ficus genus and Sheflera bore aerial roots. When I saw this tree with profuse roots growing from its branches, I was completely taken aback.
It is obviously a fully grown tree and I saw it in San Francisco.

This is a tree called Metrosideros excelsa belonging to the Myrtaceae family. Commonly called the New Zealand Christmas Tree. The species is endemic to New Zealand.

The tree is said to have brilliant flowers however it was not in bloom when during my visit. Instead, I have an image of its leaves.

Surprises never cease and this plant reminded me that there is something new to be learnt all the time.

Ever since my course in Field Botany, my travels are all the more interesting as I spend time trying to identify trees around me. Many a times, I end up just enjoying the tree as no ID seems to match.

This quote sums it up
“Time spent in Nature is time realising you don’t know it all, that you never will. The earth is meant to be enjoyed by its inhabitants” – AbdulRauf Hashmi

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in.

25/07/201922/07/2020

Dancing Trees (ThursdayTreeLove)

These trees caught my eye from a distance.. the branches made them look as if they were dancing!
Naturally, I was curious to identify the plants.
On going closer, I found them to be our old friend.. the Guava … Not one or two but an entire grove of Guavas!

When in fruit, it would be a feast for birds and people living there I am sure.
A visual treat for the rest of the year!

Guava goes by the botanical name of Psidium guajava and belongs to the Myrtaceae family. It bears pretty flowers and the tree bark is typically smooth and peeling.

Have you seen the Guava tree? Do you enjoy to eat Guavas?

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove bloghop. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

11/07/201902/08/2020

Tree Frame (ThursdayTreeLove)

This was the view that greeted me as I paused to catch my breath when climbing this hill. The trees seemed a perfect frame for the river Moshi which is one of the tributaries of Pune’s Mutha River. It has a dam at Varasgaon and this is the backwater area.

We walked up at the start of June, when the city was facing a severe water crisis. The south westerlies seemed to be bringing in hoards of clouds which filled the entire sky.

For a change, the view kept me away from trying to identify the trees… Also they were on the slope and I was not keen on going too close to them. They are likely to be Jamun or Ain, two species which were common in that area.

I am joining Parul in her bimonthly ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see lovely trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

27/06/201901/09/2020

Green Cups (ThursdayTreeLove)

From afar, this Ficus looked like any other Ficus benghalensis and I almost gave it a miss.
Yet something took me closer and lo behold!
I was seeing a tree that I had only read about and had yet to see..

Yes, its the Ficus benghalensis var krishnae – the tree that boasts of cup like leaves.
Naturally there are mythological stories associated with this tree specifically because of its leaf shape. The leaves are folded at the base to form a sort of a pocket. Don’t believe me.. see for yourself!

It belongs to the Moraceae family and is said to be related to the Ficus benghalensis or the Banyan Tree that we all know. With its aerial roots and spreading branches, this evergreen tree has an imposing canopy.

Spotting this Ficus was the highlight of that tree walk.
Have you seen the Ficus benghalensis var krishnae?

I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. Do head over to see some wonderful trees from around the world. Better still, join in!

13/06/201901/09/2020

Bananas (ThursdayTreeLove)

When walking on the road, discarded Banana skins are a big hazard in addition to indisciplined traffic, poor pavements etc. I always keep my eyes on the ground when walking .. besides spotting stuff I am likely to slip on, I am very often rewarded.
Yes Rewarded!
How?
By sighting some fallen flower or fruit which is the tree calling attention to itself!

Recently I was happy to see what looks like a discarded Banana skin.
A closer look revealed it to be the Muchkunda flower. Of course the pervading fragrance immediately confirmed its identity.

Banana skin?

It goes by the botanical name of Pterospermum acerifolium and belongs to the Sterculiaceae family (Cocoa family). There is some confusion about exact the specific name so lets just say it belongs to the Pterospermum genus.

The leaves are large and typically Peltate which means the petiole is not attached to the end of the leaf but nearer the centre. This is clearly seen in the image above. According to this Indian Express article, the tree is also called Dinner Plate Tree as the leaves are threaded together to create a plate!