Banaba a Family of the Crape Myrtle.

Banaba, with scientific name Lagerstroemia Speciosa, is a tree that is both considered as ornamental and medicinal. I googled its scientific name and discovered that according to Wikipedia, Banaba is also known as Giant Crape-Myrtle or Queen's Crape-Myrtle. How cool is that! Did you know that there are many varieties of Crape Myrtle in the world and that they are one of the most beautiful trees you will ever find in this planet? After all, the word "speciosa" in latin means "the beautiful". That is why in the Philippines, Banaba is widely planted as a landscaping material especially along parks and roadsides.

If you are familiar with the Filipino term Pito-Pito, which literally means seven-seven or seven herbal ingredients, Banaba leaves is included to create an effective poultice or tea to treat light to moderate sickness such as fever, diarrhea, asthma and many more. I have even read an article that every part of this tree from the leaves, roots and bark contain medicinal properties in preventing cancer.

TIPPING THE SCALE OF NATURE

Let us try to understand the basic relationship of Man (representing the larger part of the animal kingdom) and Trees (representing the major group of plant life).

Man needs the following in order to survive:

1) H2O or water

2) O or Oxygen from the atmosphere

3) Food from meat of animals and organisms and plant matter, which are all cellular substances.

Trees need the following in order to survive:
1) H2O or water
2) CO2 or Carbon Dioxide
3) Sunlight from the sun for photosynthesis
4) Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (N-P-K) and other trace elements from the soil

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- Man produce carbon dioxide as main by-product, which will be used by plants and trees
- Excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere trap heat of the sun (greenhouse effect)
- Accummulation of heat causes global warming

MAN VS. TREES

- SUPPOSE TO BE A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP

- Trees produce oxygen as by-product, which in turn will be inhaled by man

- Carbon is stored in the trees.

- Forests are cleared by man for development and commercial lumber

- Lumber or wood (made up of cellular matter) decomposes in time or used as fossil fuel

- Carbon dioxide is then released in large quantities in the atmosphere

- Greenhouse effect will follow

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As a result of this imbalance, life for man and animals will be hard. Aside from the severe climatic changes that will occur, food for the ever growing population of man will be scarce. Chaos will gradually follow and mass death of every living thing............NEXT IS EVOLUTION.

*According to the Wikipedia, "Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood, sugar, bone char or other substances in the absence of oxygen (see pyrolysis, char and biochar). The resulting soft, brittle, lightweight, black, porous material resembles coal and is 85% to 98% carbon with the remainder consisting of volatile chemicals and ash."

AMUGIS SEEDLINGS SALE - OLD PRICE UPTO END OF MARCH 2010.......BUY NOW!

Local Name: AMUGIS

Scientific Name: KOORDERSIODENDRON

PINNATUM

Seeds Collected From: LAGUNA

Additional Info: Please read previous blog below.

Quantity: 50pcs.

Height: 1 feet

Price: P50 each (price available until end of March 2010)

Contact Number: 0917-8834691