Which trees of Okinawa do you like?

TheNoNamedOne · 07-02-2007, 05:37 PM

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:

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 · 07-02-2007, 05:40 PM

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

P_chan · 07-02-2007, 05:41 PM

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 · 07-02-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

Yeah, I know which one you're talking about. I was amazed the first time I saw it! Post your pictures!

TheNoNamedOne · 07-02-2007, 06:20 PM

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):

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 · 07-03-2007, 10:52 AM

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 · 07-03-2007, 01:59 PM

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

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 · 07-03-2007, 06:21 PM

Here they are!

Shhh I'm hiding

my wife

dk · 07-03-2007, 06:55 PM

Awesome dude.

I was shocked first time I saw that tree.

DoctorP · 07-05-2007, 05:23 PM

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.

07-02-2007, 05:37 PM	#1
TheNoNamedOne Ban Cannon GO!!! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,466 Thanks: 0 Thanked 464 Times in 297 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 76 Times in 74 Posts Credits: -389	Which trees of Okinawa do you like? 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: 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.

07-03-2007, 01:59 PM	#7
TheNoNamedOne Ban Cannon GO!!! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,466 Thanks: 0 Thanked 464 Times in 297 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 76 Times in 74 Posts Credits: -389	Here is another interestng tree of Okinawa -- The Sotetsu Tree 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. Last edited by TheNoNamedOne; 07-03-2007 at 02:01 PM.

07-05-2007, 05:23 PM	#10
DoctorP Forum Moderator Tournaments Won: 1 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Uruma-shi Posts: 9,308 My Mood: Thanks: 1,659 Thanked 5,514 Times in 2,889 Posts Groans: 285 Groaned at 393 Times in 348 Posts Credits: 1,598,071,885	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. __________________ "We must be the change we wish to see in the world"- Mahatma Gandhi Global warming will strike 2 days before the day after tomorrow! "Usually I pw3n this board when it comes to debates" -RB

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07-02-2007, 05:41 PM	#3
P_chan アホ Join Date: May 2007 Location: The land of incest and wannabe Amish people! Posts: 15,686 My Mood: Thanks: 8,592 Thanked 6,215 Times in 3,926 Posts Groans: 1,017 Groaned at 882 Times in 772 Posts Credits: 1,663,815,248	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!

07-02-2007, 06:20 PM	#5
TheNoNamedOne Ban Cannon GO!!! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,466 Thanks: 0 Thanked 464 Times in 297 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 76 Times in 74 Posts Credits: -389	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): 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.

07-03-2007, 10:52 AM	#6
Asshat Dumber than a soap dish! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Somewhere in Utah Posts: 5,833 My Mood: Thanks: 1,073 Thanked 3,072 Times in 1,598 Posts Groans: 24 Groaned at 239 Times in 229 Posts Credits: 41,163,351	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.

07-03-2007, 06:21 PM	#8
P_chan アホ Join Date: May 2007 Location: The land of incest and wannabe Amish people! Posts: 15,686 My Mood: Thanks: 8,592 Thanked 6,215 Times in 3,926 Posts Groans: 1,017 Groaned at 882 Times in 772 Posts Credits: 1,663,815,248	Here they are! Shhh I'm hiding my wife

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