There is a wide variety of tree species that are considered of great importance and relevance since ancient times due to their striking shapes and colors, in this case we highlight the Palo Borracho tree, which is very significant due to its shape of a woman's body, let's get to know a little more about this peculiar species.
Drunk stick
Trees are of great importance for the development of society, mainly because they are responsible for providing oxygen and even absorbing bad odors and all that pollutes, they are also responsible for being a source of food for all people, animals and organisms. There is a great variety of species that are in charge of populating the entire planet, offering diversity and beauty to the environment and in the different ecosystems.
Among some of the most named species, we can highlight the Palo Borracho tree, also well known as Ceiba Speciosa, considered a native species of tropical and subtropical forests, specifically Latin America, known by other names such as bottle tree, wool tree, female samohu and lupuna; It is characterized by coming to belong to the family of baobab and kapok.
It is very popular for becoming an exotic tree considered as a very beautiful and colorful species, considered as a very fast growing tree of approximately 20 meters in height, very characterized by having a trunk that has a large amount of water per which is widely used in times of drought because it does not need water for a long period.
There is a large number of indigenous tribes related to the Ceibas, which originated from having a belly shape in the trunk of the tree, so they tend to be closely related to women when they are pregnant and also to the mother nature, therefore, since the trunk did not present the shape of a belly, it was considered to be male.
Habitat and distribution
It is considered that the Palo Borracho is a tree that comes from tropical and subtropical climate regions, being strictly dependent on areas with high rainfall, its main habitat being in very quality and dry forested areas, mainly in Latin countries such as Bolivia, Paraguay , Brazil and Peru can also be seen in Spain specifically in the nearby areas on the Mediterranean coast.
Other names that they may have are Chorisia Speciosa, where they are usually planted in gardens due to their peculiar colors, providing great beauty to the environment, so it is recommended to be grown in areas with large spaces, mainly because it is a very large and with very invasive roots, coming to raise waxes and asphalts and in this way it is possible to prevent them from damaging the structures and walls.
Features
The Palo Borracho corresponds to a deciduous tree being affected by the different seasons of the year where it has lost its leaves and its green color, also being very representative for being a large tree reaching up to 20 meters in height even there are species 25 meters high.
One of its main characteristics is its trunk because it is widened in its lower area, measuring up to meters in diameter where it is observed as a bulge very similar to a bottle, it is protected by several conical-shaped stingers, it is also He considers that it is in charge of retaining water that is widely used to resist times of drought.
In the case of the trees that are younger, they have a much smoother and smoother bark, they have a green color as time passes and they age, their texture becomes much more rough and they are filled with sharp and wide thorns on the base with approximately 5 centimeters. As the thorns mature, they begin to be found on the branches, which have a horizontal shape and are heavily covered by the stings.
Its leaves have an elongated, palmate and compound shape, they are composed of five to seven leaflets that are normally closed, it usually loses them in times of drought because they are deciduous leaves and they turn green again in rainy times. During the summer time it is characterized by being completely full of very striking flowers due to its pink color and with a white color predominating in the center, in addition to being completely dotted with red.
The flowers of the Palo Borracho tree can grow solitary but also in groups, becoming hermaphroditic (they contain the two sexual organs) and pedunculated composed of capillaries that can be seen in the inflorescence. The nectar of its flowers is usually quite attractive to hummingbirds and also to monarch butterflies that are in charge of pollinating at certain times of the year.
They also come to present a fruit that is in the form of a woody capsule and has an oval shape, can measure up to 20 centimeters in diameter and its color can be greenish brown. Once the fruit has matured, it breaks and exposes a material that is made up of fibers and is very similar to cotton that is responsible for wrapping the seeds. It can become disseminated by the different actions of the wind and the seeds can also be transferred and thus facilitate reproduction and planting in other specimens.
Variety
The Palo Borracho tree is well recognized for its various species, mainly highlighting the Chorisia Insignis, also known as the Palo Borracho Amarillo, the Chorisia Crispiflora is also very well known, which stand out for having pale pink flowers, another also very popular was the Chorisia Publiflora which have white flowers and can measure up to 12 centimeters
Multiplication
Plants are characterized by having different types of reproduction which represent the most used reproduction methods according to the species, it can be through sexual reproduction which is through seeds or pollination where the interaction of the male organs with the female organs give origin to the new shoots, while in the case of asexual reproduction it is presented by the reproduction of the plant by presenting both sexual organs being applied by cuttings.
In the case of Palo Borracho, multiplication is applied through sexual reproduction, which is by seeds, normally by those that are produced by adult species, where its planting can be direct, so it does not require prior treatment or manipulation due to its germination. it is usually very fast. Despite this, it can be multiplied by cuttings in summer seasons.
Care for the Drunken Stick
The drunk stick is a type of deciduous tree which is highly sought after for its appearance and beautiful flowers, being cultivated on many occasions in various areas as they favor its development, let's learn below some of its main characteristics to properly maintain this peculiar tree :
Roughness
It is considered as the characteristics or conditions that a tree possesses in being able to resist the various climatic and environmental conditions to which it is exposed. In the case of the drunken stick, it is considered as a type of tree with high resistance to droughts and even to defoliation and incorrect pruning, it is also very resistant to wind, all this makes it a very long-lived tree between 30 and 100 years. But it is advisable to avoid frost and due high temperatures that can drastically affect it.
Pruning
Pruning corresponds to the techniques used to maintain the aesthetic conditions of the tree and even to be able to remove those withered and diseased areas that may affect the tree. In this case, a simple training and maintenance pruning is recommended during winter times and in this way it is possible to remove those branches that are badly located or damaged.
Plagues and diseases
Plants are exposed to various environmental conditions that can benefit or affect their growth, in this case the presence of bacteria and microbes that adhere to the plant must be highlighted, withering it to death. In the case of Palo Borracho, it is not affected by pests and this is attributed to its bark and high resistance.
Location
The Palo Borracho is characterized by being a robust tree that can grow easily and naturally in its natural habitat, mainly if it has enough space and the necessary sun exposure to grow correctly, in this way it can reach up to 25 meters in height. .
Soil or Substrate
The soil represents one of the main factors that every plant needs to be able to grow properly because it is in charge of maintaining contact with the various elements, strengthening root growth and providing the necessary nutrients for plant growth. In the case of the Palo Borracho tree, it can grow in any type of soil as long as it is well drained, deep and very fertile.
Uses and Applications of Palo Borracho
The Drunken stick is characterized by coming to present some of its uses which are ornamental, being a great attraction for its showy flowers that are usually widely cultivated in avenues, gardens, squares, paths and long green expanses. They can be planted individually or also in groups as long as they have enough space to promote their good development, also taking into account their striking crown to be planted in several rows.
Another of the great uses that the Palo borracho has is to become ornamentally cultivated as bonsai, are those tree species that are cultivated in such a way to keep them smaller than their natural condition, all this through the application of techniques and special pruning, Palo Borracho becomes highly sought after to be cultivated as Bonsai due to its large roots, which are applied as neagari (exposed roots).
Other of its applications is the wool that is obtained through its fruits, which is usually used to fill mattresses, even pillows, cushions and furniture. Being also used to make life preservers, in this way to be able to achieve the various crafts to be extracted inside the bark, also being long fibers.
The Palo Borracho stands out, it is characterized by having a light and soft wood, it is not usually used industrially, which is why it came to be widely used by the aborigines or indigenous people who were living on the banks of rivers and In this way they were in charge of taking advantage of the trunk that had the shape of bottles and in this way they were able to build canoes; it can also be used to build much smaller pieces such as bats or vessels.
Legends of the Drunken Stick
The Palo de Borracho corresponds to a tree that is part of many indigenous stories or legends, usually being inspired by its shape and structure; highlighting in this case the legend of the Drunken Stick which is closely associated with the silhouette of a woman in the three main stages of her life; beginning with the times of youth where it is a slender trunk like that of a maiden or young lady, then comes the stage of fullness where the tree is in its greatest vigor, finally it reaches old age where the trunk comes to present much more mature features like that of a midwife.
Tribute to Palo Borracho
The Palo Borracho tends to offer homage mainly in the countries where it originates, especially it stands out in Argentina, where in the capital of Buenos Aires it is usually seen planted in squares and in some parks. During the months of February and March, the Palo Borracho tree usually offers its residents and all visitors a beautiful landscape, where it offers very colorful flowers and exuberant flowers that are very showy.
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