Today I felt like sharing with you some trees I'm taking care of. They are all native of Chile and hard to find in other parts of the world. They are all small right now but will grow to be very large one day.
All of these trees were gifted to me by a man I met during last summer while traveling along the coast. He owns a nursery and sells these trees to tourists that visit the beach in summer. Since I am a fan of native forests I offered him voluntary help and we became friends. After a while of not seeing each other, he came to visit me and brought these beauties along so I could take care of them.
Araucaria (Araucaria araucana)
Considered a Natural Monument by chilean law, it is forbidden to cut down these trees. They were very important to the natives due to their fruit, called "piñón", which was used to make flour and was a good source of carbohydrates.
Peumo (Cryptocarya alba)
Now this is funny, I hadn't related the scientific name of this species with the crypto world. Well there you have it, a crypto-tree! It has gained large popularity due to it's high capacity for cleansing the air and turning CO2 into oxigen. It's also very resistant to drought so I consider it to be one of the big allies we can count on for our current ecological problems.
Mañío (Podocarpus saligna)
It is a very slow growing tree. Many who see it on display say that you will die waiting for it to be large. I think this should be considered a gift to future generations as it has become very scarce in the last years.
Lingue (Persea lingue)
I don't really know why this tree is grown in this region, as it belongs to the south, where there is more rain. However it has done pretty well and has some large leaves. It is considered poisonous to cattle so good to have it on places you wish to restore the forest and leave the meat industry out! Despite it's toxicity, it's regarded as medicinal when used in the correct dose.
Temu (Blepharocalyx crukshanskii)
Another tree that should be in the south. Hopefully it will survive the intense summer heat before I take it somewhere cooler. I don't know much about this one.
Canelo (Drimys winteri)
I just love the scientific name of this one because it immediately makes me think of a "winter dream". Also it sounds like a name for a black metal band, lol. But seriously, this is a sacred tree to the Mapuche (native people of Chile), and represents to them the connection between Earth and the spiritual realms. It is also highly medicinal, and it is said to be used by chamans to enter trance states, though it is nearly impossible to find someone who will tell you how to do it.
Ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia)
This tree is one of the most comercially exploited because of the quality of the wood both for construction and firewood. I understand it has been introduced into the United States and also grows in Scotland. The flowers are very fragrant and loved by bees so in some places you will be able to buy "Ulmo honey".
Patagua (Crinodendron patagua)
If you are looking to invest in land and you run across these tree on a particular terrain you're in luck. There is a chilean saying: "Patagua pal agua", which means "Patagua for water". Basically the presence of this tree in a place means there is plenty of water as well, which is always good.
Arrayán macho (Rhaphithamnus spinosus)
This tree stands out because of it's purplish trumpet looking flowers. It is sometimes kept as a decorative bush in gardens if trimmed properly. It's fruit is regarded as edible by some but others disagree. It has small thorns but they are harmless.
Lleuque (Prumnopitys andina)
Called "grape of the mountain", this is one of the few native fruit trees you will find in Andes Mountain Range. It's fruit is sweet and slimy, a very unique experience in my opinion. As a vegan who also likes survival and wilderness I love this tree and any who provide sustenance for those who would prefer not to hunt.
Laurel de la cordillera (Laurelia sempervirens)
This is considered the chilean version of the bay tree, as it is also aromatic. Just rub the leaves with your fingers and intense aroma will come.
Well those are my little tree friends! I have nearly a hundred of them so if anyone reading lives in Chile feel free to come and pick one up ;)