Trees

"A tree is a wonderful living organism which gives shelter, food, warmth and protection to all living things. It even gives shade to those who wield an axe to cut it down" – Buddha.

An interesting article about trees

A banyan tree image from Malappuram

Banyan tree images from Different parts of the world

Arana Maram

Naga lingam tree

I didn't got a fresh flower. Its like a lingam at the centre under the sarpa. Its a native of South America. Its not a common species in Kerala. Shots are from Poovakkattuchira park from Changanacherry.

More details about the tree

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Cannon_ball_tree_(Couroupita_guianensis)

Manjium

Manjium is a famous tree in Kerala. ' Aadu, thekku, manjium' had become a cheating symbol in Kerala. Kerala had witnessed a lot of such cheating cases on behalf of Mangium. Mangium is known as 'Australian Teak'. Wood of this tree is useful for furniture making.

Njaval pazham(Black Plum Tree)

Njaval tree is known as 'Jambu' in Sanskrit. Bharatha had a name Jambu island in our puranas.

These fruits from my neighbour's home at Ernakulam which led me to the Shiva temple very near to my home. In early mornings during my visit to the temple the 'pradakhishana vazhi' will be filled with black, large and oblong njaval fruits. When we eat this fruit our mouth turns into violet. These fruits are smaller than the one in my memories. The tree in Ernakulam is so small it may be a grafted one.

Njaval tree is an ever green tree. Its fruits are called njaval pazham(jamun). The fruit is unique in its taste and colour. As the fruit ripens the purple colour turns into black. We can see njaval tree in temple premises, because it is the favourite of Krishna according to puranas. In English it is known as black plum tree, it has also the name as jamun tree. The fruit is used for making jam, squash,wine, vinegar and jelly. Bark, flowers and seeds are used in the treatment of diabetis.

We had heard a story about a monkey and a greedy crocodile. The tree in that story is Njaval tree

More about the story

The famous film song' Karukaruthoru pennanu kadanjeduthoru meyyanu

kadinte omana molanu njaval pazhathinte chelanu

ellin karuppu purathanu ullinte ullu veluthanu'

Other related posts

• Pavizhamalli
• Cheera

Jambu fruit for sale. A detailed description of the fruit which is a medicine for diabetic patients.

An interesting blog about Njaval pazham

Health benefits of Njaval fruit

About Jamun fruit

Natural benefits and curative properties of Jambu fruit

More about the fruit from Wiki

Karinaranga or vaduka puli

Its mainly used to make pickle. Its pickle is an inevitable part item in traditional kerala meals. Shots from Kattappana, Idukki District of Kerala

Kambili naranga Pictures

Ambazham tree

Vellilavu or vanthekku

Wood used to make furniture.

Eetti

Wood of this tree is used to make furniture. Shots from highrange of Kerala.

When I think of a Tree....

An old rain tree pictured from Kochi

Trees are converting light energy of the sun into chemical energy. They absorb Carbon dioxide and discard Oxygen as a by product of photo synthesis. Solar energy is used for making food. This is the basic of all activities of nature. Our food, gasoline, Oxygen all things are connected to Sun and these trees. Trees may be the only one organisms than can make their own food. All other organisms depend trees for their food. Trees convert sunlight into a reusable form..

In Bharatha, its the part of our culture to worship trees. 'Aalmaram' Peepal tree may be the first one in my memories. Whenever I go to temple I will do 'Pradikshanam' (walk around with bowing hands) around it with a manthra. 'Moolatho brahmaroopaya madhyatho vishnu roopine agratha shiva roopaya vriksharajaya te namaha' We believe that thrimurithis reside in this tree. Trees are doing a lot to us. We must teach our children to respect, to love and to nurture trees. Pee pal tree is sacred in our culture. Reports shows that it has the capacity to draw lightning to earth. It sends out oxygen 41 times more than other trees. Its leaves are always moving thus we get plenty of fresh air. Heart shaped leaves of this tree are used to make handi crafts.

Related entries:

1. Kerala trees
2. Tree house of Kerala
3. Cardamom plantation

Kerala Trees

1. Coconut tree(Thengu) (Kalpa vrksham)-Images of Coconut tree


2. Arecanut(Kamuku)- Images of Kamuku


3. Palm tree(Pana)-Leaves are used to feed elephants. Varieties of pana vishari pana, Enna pana(making palm oil), kallu pana(for making toddy) and kuda pana(for making umbrellas with palm leaves and the associated stick is with bamboo. Leaves are used to cover the roof of houses. Its stem is used as pillars of the house. These stems and coconut palm stems are used as bridges across rivers, ponds and 'Thodu'. 'Ottathadipalam' is a common sight in kuttanadu. There were a lot of rivers and small canals in Kuttanadu. So these bridges are an inevitable and adventurous part of the journey. Inside part of the stem is used as a fodder for duck. Nila pana is a smaller version of the pana and it is a plant in Dashapushpam. These stems are used to make the handles of 'ulakka', 'thumba' and 'kodali'. These stems will not deteriorate even if it is in water.


4. Bamboo and Eera-


5. Chooral-


6. Thekku


7. Eetti


8. Aanjili


9. Plavu


10. Elavu


11. Kulamavu


12. Mahagony


13. Poovam


14. Perumaram


15. Pala(Ezhilam pala)


16. Thakara


17. Karimthakara


18. Vatta


19. Manjadi tree


20. Konna


21. Nelli


22. Veppu


23. Aal maram


24. Athi


25. Ithi


26. Peral


27. Punna


28. Marotti


29. Kanjiram


30. Mavu


31. Mathala narakam


32. Narakam


33. Aavanakku


34. Kariveppu


35. Muringa


36. Coco plant


37. Kadalavanakku


38. Vazhana


39. Mullu murikku


40. Paruthi


41. Kaitha


42. Rubber


43. Kilinjil


44. Mullu murikku


45. Puli


46. Kudam puli


47. Koovalam


48. Iyyal vaka

Zodiac signs and trees

According to Indian Astrology each star or Nakshatra has its own tree. Planting this tree and nurturing it will bring peace to our mind. 'Nakshatra vanam' a unique project in the eco tourism field brings the astrology and love towards nature together. In Thenmala Eco tourism area you can spend with your own tree which will boost up your good energies. From the eco tourism counter you can buy the saplings of these trees.
Related entries:Thenmala shots Eco tourism Kuttanadu views Rameswaram

1. Aswathi-Kanjiram(strychnos nuxyomica)
2. Bharani-Nelli (Goose berry tree)
3. Karthika-Athi(ficus recemoga)
4. Rohini-Njaval(zyzigium cumunii)
5. Makayiram-Karingali(accacia catachu)
6. Thiruvathira-Karimaram(diospyros ebenum)
7. Punartham-Bamboo tree
8. Pooyam-Arayal(Peepal tree)
9. Aayilyam-Naakam(messua nagassarium)
10. Makam-Peral(Banyan tree)
11. Pooram-Chamatha(butea monosperma)
12. Uthradam-itthi(ficus microcarpa)
13. Atham-Ambazham(spondia spinneta)
14. Chithira-Koovalam(aegle marmelos)
15. Chothi-neermaruthu(terminalia arjuna)
16. Vishakham-vayyankatha(flacourtia montana)
17. Anizham-Elanji(mimusops elengi)
18. Thrikketta-Vetti(aporoba lyndleyna)
19. Moolam-vellapine(vatoria indica)
20. Pooradam-vaanchi(Ochreinauclea Missionis)
21. Uthradam-Plaavu or Jack fruit tree
22. Thiruvonam-Erukku
23. Avittam-Vanni
24. Chathayam-Kadambu
25. Pooruruttathi-Mavu or Mango tree
26. Uthruttathi-Karimpana
27. Revathi-ilippa (Madhuca Nerifolia)

Thekku maram

Ambazham

Ambazham fruit

An old ambazham tree from Paravur

Ambazham tree images from my home

Ambazhanga is the fruit of this tree. It is sweet and sour. We used to make this for making pickles. A popular pazhanjollu in malayalam is 'Aanavayil ambazhanga'. Its Bark, leaves and roots are used in Ayurvedic medicines.

Kumbalanga Chakka Banana Flowers Pavizhamalli

How to be more positive?

Valan puli

Puli processed for storage purpose

Valan puli

Puli with its seeds. puli and pulinkuru

Puli without shell

Valan puli images

Valan puli maram

Valan puli maram

Its wood is hard and durable. It is used to make furniture and wooden flooring. Its leaves, pulp and bark have several medicinal qualities. Tamarind is a medicine for gastric problems in Ayurveda. Its a shade giving tree. Its name origin came from Arabic. Tamar hind means indian date.
Leaves of Valan puli (Tamarind)
Earlier every home has its own pulimaram. Its a great task to store puli for one year. Fully ripen fruits are collected from the tree. After breaking the shells, their seeds are removed. This process is known as 'Puli kuthal'. Seeds are known as Pulinkuru. After that they are dried to remove the water content. Then they are put in 'Bharani' large vessals made of clay. Seeds of Tamarind are called pulinkuru. Children will play with these seeds. Puli is used to clean bronze vessals.

Leaves of puli has healing qualities also. For bodyache, boil some water with puli leaves and have a bath with this hot water, a simple home remedy in Kerala.

Poovarasu

Flower of Poovarasu. Yellow flower will change into pink colur after some time.

Poovarasu is an ever green tree with high medicinal value. This is used for furniture making also. Yellow beautiful flowers are main attraction of this tree. Its leaves, barks and flowers are used in Ayurveda medicines. Its mainly used in medicines for skin diseases, jaundice and cough.

Njaval tree

Shade giving tree. Its flowers have a peculiar aroma. Its fruits are sweety

Mahagony

Its a big tree, grws upto the height of 30-40 feet. The log is used to make furniture. Wood is of red colour and propagated though seeds. Its a canopy tree provides refreshing shades.

Story of a mahagony grove at Aryankavu: Repositary of History

Kattar vazha,loobikka(ololikka),Koovalam

Koovalam(Aegle marmelose) -Considered as a Sacred plant and it has medicinal value. In Sanskrit it is called as Vilva.This tree is an old one pictured from Mazhuvancherril family, Vadayar. Koovalam fruits regulates digestive functioning in humans. Leaves can be used to cure diabetis, inflammation, Asthma and Cough. The leaves are used as remedy for diarrehea, intestinal parasites and dysentry. It is a good remedy for constipation.

Specially used for the poojas of Lord Shiva. The garland made of Koovalam leaves are very special to Lord Shiva. Koovalam tree is connected with our culture. The word Koovalam can be seen in lot of film song lyrics

"Oru kumbilil niraye koovala mottukal korthu menangu..."The song is from the film 'Fast Track'.

"Neela koovala poovukalo" from an old malayalam movie. "Koovala kankalil karimazhi ezhutham" from the movie 'Gajarajamandiram'. "Neela koovala poovukalo valittezhuthiya kannukalo" Lyrics of vayalar. "Ilayay piraviyundenkil koovalathilayay thalirkkum njan" from the movie Thattakam. "poovum prasaadavumilaneer kudavumaye kavil thozhuthu varunnavale thamara valaya kaiviralalolu koovala thila enne choodikku" I don't know the film. "Iruneermizhi than koovala malaril" from the film "Azhiyatha Bandhangal".

Ripe Ololikka or Loobikka or Lovalolikka -Ripe fruits are pure red in colour and sour. This fruit is used to make pickles and jam.

Scientific name:Flacourtia Jangomas

Family:Flacourtia peac

Picture is taken from Mazhuvancherril house, Vadayar.

Kattar vazha -In my child hood days I had heard a lot about this wonderful plant. In that days most of my friends used this leaves with coconut oil to nourish their hair. I have not yet tried these leaves. Recently most of the beauty related products contain the Aloe vera like soaps, shampoo and cosmetics. Aloe vera can be used as a moisturiser and in hair oils. It is considered as a lucky plant. This plant is used to enhance the beauty of the skin. In sanskrit it is called Ghritkumari.

The leaves contain a gel like substance and it a good moisturiser, heal wounds, burns and ulcers. The oil prepared with the kattar vazha gel and cocont oil is a good remedy for hair loss and the hair will become more black.

Some benefits of this lucky plant ..

1. It lightens the dark spots on the face
2. Prevents the ageing of the skin act as a skin nourisher.
3. Used in lip sticks, facial masks, Anti wrinkle creams, skin conditioners
4. Used for various skin disorders like Eczema, psoriasis and wounds.
5. Healing agent for dry and cracked skin
6. Medicine for liver and spleen disorders
7. Promotes hair growth
   
8. This plant is called as 'women's friend'- It regularises the mensus and eases the menopause troubles
9. It purifies the blood

To read more http://keralaarticles.blogspot.com/2007/09/aloe-vera.html
About a book explaining the healing powers of Aloe vera http://www.aloe-yourmiracledoctor.com/

You can buy an Aloe vera plant this moment itself from http://www.amazon.com/gp/homepage.html/103-4648619-5495030

From this time I had not even thought that this plant has such medicinal qualities. We have to watch the nature and nurture the nature to save our earth.

enjoy the life