wandjina Posted March 19, 2006 On a recent, i.e. yesterday, foray into the sydney botanic gardens, we came across a most impressive tree whose floral display we noticed from a distance. I really have a thing for large trees with showy flowers...and this tree, Chorisia speciosa, was one of many that were planted opposite my house in a large park adjacent the Mt Cootha botanic gardens in Brissy. I never knew what species it was till yesterday. It is a spectacular tree...up to around 20m, calls sth america home, and with the baobab, kapok and durian is a member of the Bombacaceae or cotton tree family. look at those flowers but picking some may not be a good idea as MinErval inquired...what may the plant be protecting? what a kick arse tree eh? some other faves: Poinciana (Delonix regia) african sausage tree (Kigelia pinnata) the flowers smell peculiar Bauhinia spp. and less common varieities of frangipani (Plumeria spp.) what species/genera of tree would you nominate as sexiest/spectacular/flamboyant/or just plain bizarro? (not based purely on whether it contains anything psychoactive...more aesthetic). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptAmazing Posted March 19, 2006 For me, anything orchid just shouts "vagina". They're all so luscious, sensual and kinda flappy :D Maybe it's also that fertilisation looks simple but is decidedly tricky. This one's just a small example. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cisumevil Posted March 19, 2006 (edited) My favorite Tree is "Western Australian Christmas Tree / Nuytsia floribunda" just so beautiful at the right time of year & just a plain jane while not flowering! http://www.pbase.com/sheils/image/53540154 I know it cant be true but while having a closer look at Nuytsia floribunda in flower the smell of DMT hit me really strong anyone ever heard of any Misletoe's (sp) containing DMT? Edited March 19, 2006 by cisumevil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MORG Posted March 19, 2006 (edited) I'm a sucker for the vivid colours of the Japanese maples in autumn. The scarlet ones would be my favourite. Make gorgeous bonsai too. Oh, and that red frangipani is gorgeous too! I didn't know about the red ones. Very impressive. Edited March 19, 2006 by MORG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darklight Posted March 19, 2006 For me, anything orchid just shouts "vagina". Orchids crack me up, pardon the pun... when I did my brief stint at UNE bio they showed us a vid of a wasp trying to fuck an orchid flower, believing the flower to be another wasp. It was having a fair old go at it too. Dunno if that's specific to a particular species or a common occurrence in the Orchidaceae, but I remember thinking at the time Orchid Porn for Horny Wasps. Now every time I see an orchid- not too often thankfully- I have a little giggle, it's like nature leaving lots of blowup dolls around for horny bugs to get excited about for no reason. I admit to being very easily amused. I like Mitragyna speciosa trees best, cos I had such a long history of working with them and it was such an important period of my life. They're noble trees, or they seem noble to me, and they're my children, so I used to look at every one of them closely to see how they're doing. And I'm terribly cranky they made them illegal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hagakure Posted March 19, 2006 those wasp orchids are amazing. they fool wasps into trying to mate then have them carry their pollen for them. so many years of natural selection and modification to such a specific end result. it is just fascinating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted March 19, 2006 (edited) orchids are named so from the greek for teste you can see why in th european species - the vas deferens, epididymis and teste can me made out Chorisia insignis is an ayahuasca additive for intestinal complaints the are frost hardy to -7 in a subtropical climate so i reckon i might get some The native dry rainforest around here are really special my fav locals are lacebark tree - brachychiton discolor http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/01_c...ails.asp?ID=276 deciduous strangler fig - Ficus superba var henneana http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/01_c..._pop.asp?ID=213 Giant stinging tree - dendrocnide sp. http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/01_c..._pop.asp?ID=133 in the exotics i quite like tabebuia species http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/.../photo_db/T.htm i bough some T rosea (Lapacho negro) that being deciduous should have the best frost tolerance they are bignonaceae like the kigelia and both share similar antiviral anticancer properties. Tabebuia are also added to ayahuasca aka lapacho / pau d' arco I like Anadenathera species I like the tropical walnut juglans neotropica for its fernlike fronds and fine wood i guess in general i like dry subtropical rainforest trees where temperate, inland and subtropical overlap in an orgy of floristic, culinary and pharmacological biodiversity :D Edited March 19, 2006 by Rev Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted March 19, 2006 (edited) and regarding misteltoe and tryptamines - yes a FOAF mentioned that some strange substituted tryptamines have been found in that family i dont have the reference but if true i have often seen mistletoes on active acacia species here you go Mistletoe (Loranthaceae) The berries contains 1-ethyltryptamine (an true isomer of DMT with a 1-ethyl rather than N,N-dimethyl. Alexander Shulgin "TIHKAL"1997. Edited March 19, 2006 by Rev Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cisumevil Posted March 20, 2006 Mmmmmmm might just have to look further into Nuytsia floribunda! The smell of DMT was quite distinct ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandjina Posted March 21, 2006 My favorite Tree is "Western Australian Christmas Tree / Nuytsia floribunda" just so beautiful at the right time of year & just a plain jane while not flowering! ooh yeah, what a stunner! Chorisia insignis is an ayahuasca additive for intestinal complaints Yes, and according to Ott, so is C.speciosa, and also Bauhinia spp. oh and I forgot to add....Albizia spp, aahhh...just gotta love those powder puff style flowers. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/meteo.cabestany/im...bizia_liger.jpg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted March 21, 2006 (edited) The smell of DMT was quite distinct ;)so you mean skatol smell?very pure dmt has very little smell you can eat nuytsia lateral roots. very sweet. its the roots they parasitise with, theyll even cut into buried cables to try and hook on. info thanks to - in the wild with harry butler circa early 80's seen as a kid oh and I forgot to add....Albizia spp, aahhh...just gotta love those powder puff style flowers. certainly - Albizzia julibrissin - the persian silk tree, the tree of happiness. another one on my to get list http://www.planetherbs.com/showcase/docs/albizzia.php im also after A versicolor, a saponin based arrow poison. Edited March 21, 2006 by Rev Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
