Thursday 19 December 2013

Regarding The Royal Paulownia Tree

By Harriett Crosby


The royal paulownia tree is originally from China and was named in honor of Anna Paulownia by her husband King Willem of the Netherlands. Easily propagated, it is famous for the large, fragrant blossoms it produces throughout the summer months and large fuzzy leaves. The Japanese people highly regard this tree for traditional and economic reasons.

Tradition dictates that Japanese families plant one of these trees each time a daughter is born. When she is married the tree is made into the marriage chest she takes to her new family. It is also considered a bringer of good fortune when planted near the house. Japanese families prize this hardwood for its capability of being made into beautiful furniture pieces and toys for the family.

The Chinese are the biggest producers of this tree but it has taken hold in American markets as well. The amazing growth of this tree makes it a valuable asset. It can grow up from a sapling to eighteen feet tall in one year's time. Tree farms are becoming very popular for harvesting and sale to Japan for processing into furniture and toys.

Nature's design of the leaves creates a natural pollutant inhibitor. They are large and have a fur like surface. This causes them to gather and hold smoke, dust, and smog from the air surrounding them. To this goal they are planted in mass quantities in major industrial areas in China and America.

One mature tree can produce millions of seeds that can germinate easily in moist, well drained soil. Environmentalists have some concerns that it will become uncontrolled and turn into a weed tree taking over from the natural trees in areas where there has been a fire or the land has been disturbed. These plants sprout easily on hillsides and near forests.

They are very hardy in temperate zones and a seed base has been developed for colder areas that will with stand frost and snow. One of the issues with this tree is the branches tend to break in high winds. This creates a hazard for anything underneath from falling branches and makes a mess to be taken care of around the base of the trunk.

The wood of this tree serves well as a resource for surf boards and many nautical items. It also serves as a natural hardwood for warming homes during winter months. The Chinese have developed medicinal uses for the leaves as well. The processed leaf is used as a hair restoration ointment, for skin ailments and wound cleansing. It works especially well for cleansing infected ulcers.

The royal paulownia is a tree of many facets. It has long been prized in the Eastern nations for wood and other items. Nearly every part of the plant can be used or has value on some level. Whether it is being grown for export or to help restore our own soil and air quality it has a history of aiding mankind. This is one Chinese export that should be welcomed to the North American hemisphere with open arms.




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