Washington robusta, cotton palm

The cotton palm, also known as the Mexican fan palm or the Californian fan palm has been used to turn both deserts and urban landscapes into supposedly tropical oases. It is native to Mexico.

It is found in the Order Arecales, Family Arecaceae and Sub-Family Coryphoideae according to its phylogenic classification. 

Its appearance is marked by a ringed trunk which, unusually for a palm, slightly tapers as it approaches the crown of the tree. The saw-toothed spined palmate leaves are green in color with a shiny appearance. As the tree grows, the leaves dry up and fall to form the skirt below the new glossy leaves. The evergreen plant can be spotted with cotton like threads on its young leaves which illustrate where the name “cotton palm “originated.

 It is estimated that the tree can reach a height of over 30 meters, the trunk can have a maximum of 20-30 cm width below the crown and the leaves can grow to no more than 2 meters in length or width. Its leaves collect to form a fan shaped structure which bear berries distributed by animal dispersion. 

The cotton palm tree can grow well in any type of soil but it grows faster in well-drained soil. They are mostly found in areas with difficult environmental conditions. It is found in its native Mexico and certain parts of America like Florida, Arizona and California as well as further abroad.

This tree can be grown from a seed which takes close to two months to germinate. The shape of the leaves is designed in such a way that they reduce the rate of water loss through evaporation. It helps it to cope in deserts and semiarid regions. It can survive in temperatures as low as -6⁰C. The palm may lose its fronds in such harsh conditions and grow them back from stored energy.

They can be grown at home in pots and vases before they are introduced to the ground. These palms are available commercially as seedlings to grow as ornamentals. They are hardy and can survive most soil types.

It is used for its shade, landscaping (street, buildings and homes), groupings and groves mostly in open-space public areas. They can be used in gardens to add aesthetic appeal which naturally comes at the sight of the cotton palm.  

They are habitats for certain animals like rats who seek refuge under the dry leaves which form a skirt at the mid-section. The skirt is manually removed so that it does not hold harmful pests and also for the ultimate beauty of the tree. The trees can be affected by certain infections which can be denoted by drying of the leaves, change of trunk appearance and change of leaf color. One distinguishable character of the tree is the mysterious curving of the trunk in some Washingtonia robusta. 

Liquidambar

Liquidambar

The Liquidambar is a genus of trees appropriately named for both liquid and amber. The tree is also known as storax. It is a genus of 5 species also known as American redgum, sapgum, starleaf-gum, or bilsted, American sweet gum, Satin walnut and Copalm balsam. Various species are native to Asia, the Americas and parts of Europe. In North America they are native to plenty lower valley of Mississippi and most of the Eastern part of the United States of America. However, the tree genus is scattered in the whole American continent.

They are identified by their leaves of maple appearance which during autumn take an elegant color depending on the species. The leaves are palmate, lobed and are arranged in a spiral shape along the twigs.

Environment

Loam and alluvial clay soils are best for their growth rate. They need well-drained soil with adequate moisture. They cannot grow well in alkaline terrain but require acidic or neutral soil pH to thrive. Full sun and partial shade sunlight conditions are further requirements.

The tree can grow to a height of over 12 meters with a width spread of more than 8 meters. It could therefore be described as strongly decurrent.

The tree take more than fifty years to reach its mature height. It is deciduous and so shades its leaves depending on the season. To see their true colors one ought to wait for the autumn where there will be a mixture of colors caused by anthocyanin.

They can be easily grown from cuttings. It is advisable to keep them pruned as they tend to get ‘top-heavy’ and snap. They are disease and pest free trees, for the most part.

They contain spiny pods like gum balls that maintain a dark brown outer casing which will later fall during the summer. The flowering season is during Spring, while they fruit in late Autumn.

The fruits can hold up to 56 seeds inside until ripe to release the seeds for dispersion. There are no diseases that commonly affect these trees though rodents, other animals and fire can damage the trees completely.

They grow in temperate climates and can survive harsh conditions. Given open space it can be a pleasant amenity tree.

Economic Importance

The Liquidambar genus produces hardwoods which can be used as lumber, veneer, and plywood for different application in the wood industry. They can be used for fencing and fuel depending on the season and need.

The seeds on the trees can be a source of food for fowls, chipmunks and squirrels in the Americas. In Asia they provide food for native birds and, unfortunately, rodents. They are also used for habitation where breeding may take place for birds and animals.

The varying yellow or red autumn colors of the foliage makes it attractive as an ornamental tree. They also have a traditional medicinal use which utilizes the blue gum to make a remedy for diarrhea and dysentery. The gums have been used in manufacturing industries which for different purpose. However, it’s most important utility to people is probably the leafy shade it provides

Glochidion ferdinandi, Cheese Tree.

The Cheese Tree is native to the eastern states of Australia. It is named for the appearance of its fruit which, with some imagination, look like a swiss cheese. It’s one of many Australian natives not often mentioned because it doesn’t come from a large genus of natives such as the Eucalypts or Grevilleas.

Appearance

The cheese tree grows as a shrub with a bushy appearance. It is estimated to have a height of 7-10 meters and a width spread of up to 5 meters. Its shiny green foliage collects to form a canopy at the top. The individual leaves are of elliptic shape and the fruits look like miniature pumpkins. The flowering period is between the month of July and December while the fruits will ripen between the month of February and November. The fruits turn from green to a deep red color as they split to expose seeds when they are ripe. In the presence of adequate moisture, the tree grows at a rapid rate and can grow in any soil provide the required moisture levels are met. The flowers form in groups of threes which are either green or yellow in color.

Global Species Information

There are different species that can relate to this tree and it is estimated that 200 of such species are spread in Africa, Asia and America. The barks of the tree of this species are grey-brown in color with a scaly appearance. The tree exists as a female and male tree (monoecious), therefore the capsule like fruit are normally found in female trees of the species.  The fruits burst to produce 4-6 flat seeds which are contained in segments inside the capsule. The pattern of the leaves consist of two ranks where there are two leaves on a portion of a branch which lie on the opposite sides (pseudo-pinnate).

Known Benefits of Glochidion ferdinandi

The barks have medicinal advantage as scientists are working on researches to seek its remedy to cancer and lung carcinoma. The canopy that it forms makes it suitable for use as a garden tree to provide shade. They are important for the fowls that feed on the fruits and used as a habitat by certain insects like caterpillars or butterflies, moths, and ladybirds which feed on other pests that may be hosted on the same tree. Common birds that benefit from the cheese tree include the Lewin’s Honey eater, rain forest pigeons, Australian King Parrot, doves and Olive-backed Oriole. Benefits to humans will be for the solar screen that forms by their foliage and canopy. The tree is fire redundant as it continues to sprout after a bush fire. The fruits produced by this tree cannot however be consumed by humans.