Which trees of Okinawa do you like?

[TheNoNamedOne]

I think Okinawa has some beautiful trees. What they lack in height and grandieur, they make up for in interesting form.

I will start:

I love the gajumaru tree! It is just beautiful with all those roots coming down from branches seeking the ground trying to make a supporting trunk, that it kind of reminds me of spanish moss draping down from trees in Georgia and Florida.

Nago has a beautiful gajumaru tree in the center of one of its side roads.

Though, there seems to be two kinds gajumaru trees -- one that has roots sprouting down from limbs, and another kind that does not. I like the former the best.

Here is one:

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/ma-akita/gajumaru.jpg

Just think of the mini ecosystems that are thriving between all those roots -- lizards, snakes, insects etc... Really is nice to look upon these trees. Just beautiful.

[dk]

Those were always my favorite too. They're really neat looking.

[P_chan]

those are my favorite too! At the sacred rock place up north there is the supposed oldest one in japan! I've got pics I'll post them soon!

[dk]

those are my favorite too! At the sacred rock place up north there is the supposed oldest one in japan! I've got pics I'll post them soon!
Yeah, I know which one you're talking about. I was amazed the first time I saw it! Post your pictures!

[TheNoNamedOne]

Before someone posts a different Okinawan tree, I just thought it may be interesting to show you an Indian Gajumaru tree (btw, we Westerners refer to these kinds of trees as Banyan Trees):

http://www.southalabama.edu/india/allphotos/india/nationalicons/banyan.jpg

You can buy these trees (as well as Okinawan Gajumaru trees) in Makeman or any garden center in Okinawa. Indian Gajumaru trees are known as Benjimin Trees and they grow quite fast. They are often used for room plants in restaurants or homes, but birds here in Okinawa have spread them into the wild where you can find them. There seems to be several varieties of these as well with different leaf shapes. But, the roots still come down from the limbs which always facinates me with trees like these.

I have one growing in my yard that is about 8 m. high that I planted about 6 years ago.

[Asshat]

Those are truely evil trees though aren't they? They begin life as a parasite and take over the host. That is how they get the interesting roots.

And probably why the kijimuna lives there!

Interesting to find out that on Guam, the same tree has the same legend...only the name is slightly different.

Never cut that tree down.

An old timer who arrived here in 1947 said that in the central and southern parts of the island, there were no trees. The pre-invasion bombing had leveled them all. Thus, he said, there are no trees here older than that.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Here is another interestng tree of Okinawa -- The Sotetsu Tree

http://had0.big.ous.ac.jp/plantsdic/gymnospermae/cycadaceae/sotetsu/sotetsu1.jpg

In the wild you will often see these growing out of craggy crevices in rock formations here. But in stores they sell them potted.

The Shimizu Daimyo and Satsuma clan of Kyushu, after having subjugated the Ryukyu Kingdom, imported these plants to Kyushu for ornaments in gardens, and now you can find these at some places in Kyushu. I would imagine some have spread into the wild there as well.

An old man here in Okinawa told me that the seed of the sotetsu (oblong golf ball size) was used for making poison to assasinate rivals long ago in Okinawa. If you have pets, not good to plant one of these in your yard, because when pets get bored and curious, they like to try chewinig on things they can pick up outside

If you get up to Urasoe, you can see a good grouping of these planted at the intersection of San Park Dori and the Pipeline -- near the Ohira Intersection of Rt.330 -- close to McD's.

[P_chan]

Here they are!

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9460/dsc00592xg6.jpg
Shhh I'm hiding

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1928/dsc00594mr0.jpg
my wife

[dk]

Awesome dude. :D I was shocked first time I saw that tree.

[DoctorP]

I'm partial to the Furugi trees. They usually are planted in a line around the older homes as they were used as wind blocks for the typhoons. They are very strong, and quite colorful. I have a story about Japanese trees somewhere, I will have to locate it and post it here later.

[Sex Wax]

My favorite tree is the one growing out of the corner of one of my window frames. A little known species of tree called the Okinawan Window Tree. Sometimes mistaken for the Okinawan Roof Tree and the more widely spotted Okinawa Gutter Tree.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/AshMiller1972/owt.jpg

[gtlm2000]

Gajyumaru. Most of school has it in schoolyard.
I climbed it sometime

[Maytag Man]

Probably the rarest, most secluded and most expensive tree to own in Okinawa... and no, I haven't seen one before... :w00t:

http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/lR/marijuana-tree-122308-lg.jpg

[commando]

I'm partial to the Furugi trees. They usually are planted in a line around the older homes as they were used as wind blocks for the typhoons. They are very strong, and quite colorful. I have a story about Japanese trees somewhere, I will have to locate it and post it here later.

Are you talking about Fukugi? Those are pretty cool.:cool: There's a great village up in Motobu called Bise that really exudes the old Okinawa feeling.

http://www.okinawahdr.com/okinawa-hdr-features-and-news/northern-okinawa/bise/

And this (http://www.jahitchcock.com/folktale.html) is probably the Okinawan folktale you were thinking of...

[dk]

Probably the rarest, most secluded and most expensive tree to own in Okinawa... and no, I haven't seen one before... :w00t:

http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/lR/marijuana-tree-122308-lg.jpg

I don't know... That looks more like a plant than a tree to me. A very large plant, though.

[P_chan]

the giant banyan trees up north are pretty bad ass:thumbup:

[DoctorP]

Are you talking about Fukugi? Those are pretty cool.:cool: There's a great village up in Motobu called Bise that really exudes the old Okinawa feeling.

http://www.okinawahdr.com/okinawa-hdr-features-and-news/northern-okinawa/bise/

And this (http://www.jahitchcock.com/folktale.html) is probably the Okinawan folktale you were thinking of...

I've heard it called both...and yes that was the exact tale I was thinking of, thank you! :thumbup:

[Muku]

Are you talking about Fukugi? Those are pretty cool.:cool: There's a great village up in Motobu called Bise that really exudes the old Okinawa feeling.
.

Maybe he was talking about the 古着 Tree? :rolleyes::D
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f205/KirinMan/2527666040044276082UFTFnX_ph.jpg




I have been to Bise and the area you refer to is a noted tourist spot for the Fukugi.

To those that don't get the joke, it is a play on words that Doc P wrote in calling the Fukugi the Furugi. Furugi the kanji here...古着 means old clothes in Japanese

[DoctorP]

Maybe he was talking about the 古着 Tree? :rolleyes::D
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f205/KirinMan/2527666040044276082UFTFnX_ph.jpg




I have been to Bise and the area you refer to is a noted tourist spot for the Fukugi.

To those that don't get the joke, it is a play on words that Doc P wrote in calling the Fukugi the Furugi. Furugi the kanji here...古着 means old clothes in Japanese

Wow...took you two years to make a smart assed comment in this thread...must have finally found something you knew absolutely nothing about before commando provided info for you! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Muku]

Wow...took you two years to make a smart assed comment in this thread...must have finally found something you knew absolutely nothing about before commando provided info for you! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

No actually again you typically assume something and are incorrect again.

My join date here Join Date 08-03-2007 is after the thread was originally started and the last post previous to Sex's Necromancing it was yours and even that was prior to my joining here as well, I can't recall ever seeing this thread previously.

So much for your smart assed comment here, and previous one as well.......:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[DoctorP]

No actually again you typically assume something and are incorrect again.

My join date here Join Date 08-03-2007 is after the thread was originally started and the last post previous to Sex's Necromancing it was yours and even that was prior to my joining here as well, I can't recall ever seeing this thread previously.

So much for your smart assed comment here, and previous one as well.......:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Hmmm?? The previous one?


Which one?

This one:


I'm partial to the Furugi trees. They usually are planted in a line around the older homes as they were used as wind blocks for the typhoons. They are very strong, and quite colorful. I have a story about Japanese trees somewhere, I will have to locate it and post it here later.


Or this one:


I've heard it called both...and yes that was the exact tale I was thinking of, thank you!

I just can't see those as being smart assed...but then you are old, so maybe you are reading something else into it. :scratchchin::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Zim the Invader]

I just can't see those as being smart assed...but then you are old, so maybe you are reading something else into it. :scratchchin::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Likely his mind is slipping, his eye are playing tricks on him in his old age, or he was distracted by the pain in his hip. You know those hips tend to go out on those older folks from time to time.:old:

[P_chan]

Holy pedantic nonsense batman!:rolleyes:

[Zim the Invader]

Or maybe this thing ate his brain.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_z2aOSgEfzXs/RrHeEBReNPI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/V5j7XWSunjM/s400/u+got+scared.jpg

[Sex Wax]

Stay on topic please. It's all about the Trees. The Tree's Fleas made me sneeze. Some Bees live in Trees.

[Muku]

Stay on topic please. It's all about the Trees. The Tree's Fleas made me sneeze. Some Bees live in Trees.

Hey come on at least I posted a picture of a furuki:grin1:

I wonder if anyone ever saw a blow job tree in Okinawa? They look like this one here....:scratchchin:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bEOj2c4el8Y/SBdEX8yn3iI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/CmTPHH1wOOo/s400/sexytrees2.jpg

[DesertDonn]

I like the matsu trees myself.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t1.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t2.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t3.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t4.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t5.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t6.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t7.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t8.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t9.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss189/DesertDonn/trees%20of%20okinawa/t10.jpg

[loeptx48]

I like the Banyan Trees.

[Muku]

The Ryukyu Matsu or Ryukyu Pine tree is one of my favorites as well. Amazingly to me at least some of these trees can cost as much as $10,000.00 or more for a well tended tree.

Tree's here are not cheap. Some of the larger trees that people see transplanted into parks can run anywhere from $1000.00 and up per tree and many come with 5 to 10 year guarantees as well.

http://www.geocities.jp/yukichie2004/love_okinawa/2005/kume/05.jpg

[paper_monster]

I took this picture in a park near my house.
I don't know what sort of tree it is, sorry!

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/78/l_7eefbde3a0bf4ba4bf47d13f11fcb10d.jpg

the tree in the middle of the pond. :D

[Muku]

I took this picture in a park near my house.
I don't know what sort of tree it is, sorry!

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/78/l_7eefbde3a0bf4ba4bf47d13f11fcb10d.jpg

the tree in the middle of the pond. :D

That looks very much like the ryukyu pine tree or something similar. It has long needles right?

Nice picture btw:thumbup:

[paper_monster]

Muku, I'm not sure.
here's another picture of the tree more closely...
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs006.snc1/2827_153215095245_905050245_6390450_5120460_n.jpg

[GODH8SU]

I wish I could see the pictures at work.

[Muku]

Muku, I'm not sure.
here's another picture of the tree more closely...

It is a pine tree, and could be a ryukyu pine as well that has been tended to and created to look like that.

Take a look at these.......
http://img01.ti-da.net/usr/churaumi/20_419_1.jpg

This is a bonsai version of a ｍatsu or pine tree

http://www.kirinzan.jp/work/2006-04-10/IMG_0209.JPG

http://www.ashinari.com/images/a0006/000626/000626.jpg

[paper_monster]

OOOOooo Muku, that last one you posted is VERY pretty.
sigh...
do you have some of these types in your yard?

[Sex Wax]

I wish I could see the pictures at work.

Yeah, you are missing out dude....all the pics have hot naked chicks posing by the trees.

[Muku]

OOOOooo Muku, that last one you posted is VERY pretty.
sigh...
do you have some of these types in your yard?

Not like that unfortunately......

I wish though.:D

[dk]

You guys have yards? :( I want a yard....

[Richard Burns]

You guys have yards? :( I want a yard....

I have a parking lot that I pretend is a yard.

[Sex Wax]

You guys have yards? :( I want a yard....

My yard is tiki torch awesome....with grass.

[Trail]

What type of pine has the looong, soft needles? It's a darker blue green color than the Matsu Pine and grows a bit differently. I dubbed them "whisper pines" do to the sound the make when the wind blows through them. There is one located next to the Kadena Officers Club.

[Muku]

What type of pine has the looong, soft needles? It's a darker blue green color than the Matsu Pine and grows a bit differently. I dubbed them "whisper pines" do to the sound the make when the wind blows through them. There is one located next to the Kadena Officers Club.
Are you talking about one with needles like this?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a270/Susumuboi/Molokai%202007/10Dewb.jpg

And is the tree gnarled and looks like it is at least a 100 years old?

[Trail]

Are you talking about one with needles like this?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a270/Susumuboi/Molokai%202007/10Dewb.jpg

And is the tree gnarled and looks like it is at least a 100 years old?

Yes. Some how the needles look more "downy" in person though.

[Muku]

I personally have never seen either of these however they are from trees in Yaeyama.

Treebeard emigrated to Yaeyama it seems!:w00t:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f205/KirinMan/ent.jpg

Check out the roots on these trees also from Yaeyama

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f205/KirinMan/roots.jpg

[Muku]

Yes. Some how the needles look more "downy" in person though.

Have you seen the same or similar trees at Okuma possibly?

If so they are they could very well be called ironwood trees I think.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f205/KirinMan/ironwood-tree-on-Kauai-beach-Hawaii.jpg