Back then, when the Qingjiang crane was still "screwing" in Quanzhou, I saw that there were cockscomb thorn trees planted everywhere, which was very beautiful. A local neighbor told me that Quanzhou has the nickname of "Thorn City", so planting cockscomb Thorn tree is the habit of the local people to plant trees.
Picture 01~02): Cockscomb Thorn Tung Flower
In fact, planting cockscomb sycamores has become a "habit", and it is also related to a piece of local history.
Legend has it that in the five dynasties, Quanzhou Jiedu made Liu Congxiao in order to "expand" the city, in the ring of the city and alleys, asking people to plant this kind of cockscomb thorn tree. Later, the cockscomb thorn tung blossomed, the branches and leaves were luxuriant, the flowers were red like fire, and the shape was like a cockscomb, and people took this kind of tree, as a "characteristic" and "landmark" inheritance, so Quanzhou had the name of Thorn City. Of course, it is now the city flower of Quanzhou.
Su Song, a medical scientist in the Northern Song Dynasty, said when he admired the cockscomb thorn tree: "The leaves of this tree are like sycamores, and its flowers are attached to the dry and grown. The side application is like a palm, the shape is like a golden phoenix, the branches have thorns, and the flower color is dark red. ”
Picture 03~04): Cockscomb with beautiful appearance
During the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the medical scientist and writer Li Xun said that the cockscomb thorn thorn prickly tree: "Born in the South China Sea Valley, the tree resembles a paulownia, and the skin is yellow and white, so there are thorns, so it is named." That's why people call it "Haitong".
Among the rich and colorful plant resources, with its unique charm and profound cultural heritage, it has become the favorite of many flower lovers, plant planting enthusiasts and garden designers.
In this issue, Qingjiang Crane will focus on and chat with all the teachers about the topic of "cockscomb thorn tree". I hope you like and actively participate in the interaction, forward and share the pictures and texts of this issue.
Picture 05~06): Cockscomb Thorn tree in the early budding stage
Thornberry is a perennial deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Rotissb in the class Dicotyledonous Plantae, the primary flower subclass of the class Rosaceae, the suborder Rosaceae, the Fabaceae family, the butterfly flower subfamily, the bean bean family, the subfamily of T. spinosa:
Cockslung paulows are commonly known as "cocktail beans", "beautiful spinoses" and "Brazil spinosa" (related to the original production in Brazil). It is named because its flowers resemble the cockscombs of a rooster, and is also known as the cockscomb bean.
And because it is fiery red when it blooms, and the flowers are red and gorgeous from afar, as if the trees are full of red parrots, so the "cockscomb thorn tree" is also called "parrot flower".
Picture 07~08): Cockscomb in the park
According to Volume 41 of the Flora of China, T. cockscomb is a perennial deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus P. spp. in the legume family.
It is native to tropical areas of South America such as Brazil, and is now widely distributed all over the world and has become one of the important tree species for landscaping.
It is artificially planted in Fujian, Fuzhou, Guangdong, Guangdong, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou and other places in the mainland.
The stem and petiole of the cockscomb are slightly covered with skin spines, and the pinnate compound leaves are composed of three leaflets, the leaflets are oblong or lanceolate-oblong, about 7cm~10cm long, 3~4cm wide, the apex is obtuse or acute, and the base is nearly rounded, showing a tough and elegant growth posture.
Picture 09~10): Artificially planted cockscomb thorn tree
The cockscomb is light-loving, can also tolerate light shade, and can thrive in a variety of light conditions. It prefers high temperature and high humidity climates, but also has strong cold tolerance, which makes it able to show vitality in different climate regions.
It is highly adaptable, drought tolerant and barren, does not require very high soil fertility conditions, and is even resistant to salinity, which allows it to survive and reproduce in a variety of soil conditions.
The flowers of the cockscomb are very similar to the dragon's tooth flower, which can be described as highly "similar", but if you look closely, there is still a big difference. The flowers and leaves emerge together, and the racemes are apical. There are 1~3 flowers in each section. The flowers are crimson, 3~5cm long, slightly drooping or clamped at right angles with the flower shaft. Calyx bell-shaped, apex two shallowly lobed. Its flowering period lasts for several months, from April to July (altitude in the area of 900m~1200m, flowering period is between May ~ June), the flowers are red and bright when they bloom, shaped like a cockscomb, and become a beautiful scenery in summer.
Picture 11~12): Cockscomb Thorn with beautiful appearance
The fruit of the cockscomb is a "pod", the appearance is similar to the "green bean", the seed is black and brown and kidney-shaped, like the green bean grain, and the surface has a pattern, which is very beautiful.
The bark and root bark of the cockscomb can be used as medicine, which has the effect of dispelling rheumatism and soothing the meridians:
The cockscomb not only has a very good ornamental value, but its medicinal value can not be ignored and underestimated.
The bark and roots of the cockscomb can be used as medicine, which has the effects of sterilization and disinfection, heat clearing and detoxification, cooling blood and stopping bleeding.
Picture 13~14): Seeds of the cockscomb tree
Chen Zhang's "Fujian Flower Culture" contains the cockscomb thorn tree: "The bark or root bark can be used in medicine, and it is called the bark of the sea tree." It has the effect of dispelling rheumatism and relaxing meridians. It is used for the treatment of rheumatism, numbness, waist, leg, musculoskeletal pain, and bruises. "It has a relaxing effect on the striated muscles and a sedative effect on the central nervous system.
Although the flowers and leaf roots of the cockscomb are beneficial to humans, it is worth noting that its seeds are poisonous and inedible. Toxicity manifests itself as an "inhibition" effect on the myocardium or cardiac conduction system, which reminds us to be vigilant while appreciating and using it.
Picture 15~16): Seeds of the cockscomb tree
When I first saw the branches green, I was suddenly frightened and wanted to burn out:
The ornamental value of the cockscomb is extremely high, its tree is beautiful, the trunk is vigorous and simple, the flower color is red and bright, and the flowering period is long, and there is a special function of purifying the air, so it is the preferred tree species for parks, squares, courtyards and road greening.
Whenever the flowers bloom, the red flowers are like burning flames, dyeing the surrounding air with a warm atmosphere.
Wang Shipeng of the Song Dynasty wrote "Thorn Tung Flower" as: "When I first saw the branches of ten thousand green, I suddenly frightened the fire umbrella and wanted to burn out. Flowers are ripe after the year, and people don't love red. Tang Dynasty Chen Tao's "Thorn Tung Flower": "Yiyi Xiaoyan Sandwich the thoroughfare, and the wind and smile more and more on a sunny day." It's just that the red fang can't be moved, and the thorn barrier is full of the middle capital. ”
Picture 17~18): Cockscomb on the slope of the river
I don't know whether the thorn tree flowers in these poems of the ancients are "thorn paulownia" or "cockscomb thorn tree" I don't know, maybe it's all of them. They didn't divide the flower so finely.
The flower language of the cockscomb is eternal life, infatuation, wealth and auspiciousness, it is not only a beautiful messenger of nature, but also a symbol of people's good wishes.
Whether it blooms alone or in patches, the cockscomb can attract people's attention with its unique charm and make people forget to leave.
It is the national flower of Argentina and Uruguay, the national tree of Chile, the city tree of Los Angeles in United States, and the city flower of Quanzhou.
Picture 19~20): Cockscomb Thorn tree in full bloom
Interesting story of the cockscomb thorn tree:
01) "Cockscomb Thorn Tree" is a "Heroic Tree":
Legend has it that during the colonial period of Spain, an Indian tribal chief died heroically, and his daughter Anayi took up her father's banner and continued to lead the tribe in battle, but was eventually captured.
The Spain colonists tied her to a bosai tree (i.e., the cockscomb thorn tree) and put her to death with fire. At this moment, the non-flowering Bosai tree miraculously bloomed full of red flowers, like fire and blood, as if mourning for Anayi's heroic righteousness. This legend not only gives the cockscomb more emotional color, but also leaves a deep impression of the "hero tree" in people's hearts.
Picture 21~22): Artificially cultivated on green ground
02) "Cockscomb Thorn Tree" is the "protector god" of fishermen:
There is a story that the "cockscomb thorn tree" was evolved by a flying immortal in the heavenly court.
Legend has it that there is a centipede-like "sea monster" on the seashore, which often comes out to "make waves" when fishermen go out to sea. The fishermen could not bear the suffering, so they wept bitterly on the seashore.
When Feixian was inspecting the world, he discovered what the "sea monster" had done, so when the "sea monster" came out to harm the fishermen, Feixian went down to protect the fishermen and guard the sea.
Although the fishermen were saved, the flying immortals returned to heaven and "lacked skills", so they turned into a tall broad-leaved tree, the trunk was covered with spikes, and red flowers bloomed between the branches, with poison, thorns and fiery red flowers to deter and resist the "sea monster". Later, people called this splendid and colorful flower tree like a cockscomb.
Picture 23~24): Cockscomb Thorn Tree, beautiful appearance
Words written at the end:
To sum up, with its unique biological characteristics, rich medicinal value, high ornamental value and moving interesting stories, it has become a bright pearl among natural resource plants.
Let us appreciate the beauty of the "cockscomb thorn tree" at the same time, but also learn its perseverance, brave and tenacious spiritual qualities, and jointly protect this precious gift from nature.
Picture 25~26): Structure of the cockscomb tung flower