Herbs Plants » Trees

The Trees of Kerala
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
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
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
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
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.