Tour of Botanic Gardens trees offers up interesting anecdotes
Dr Hugh Glen will amaze with his knowledge and amuse with his anecdotes as he shows visitors a few of his favourite trees.
A GUIDED walk entitled Interesting Trees of the Durban Botanic Gardens takes place on Saturday, 30 November at 9.30am, from the Durban Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre.
Dr Hugh Glen will share his knowledge and amuse with his anecdotes as he shows visitors a few of his favourite trees, many of which have amazing stories attached.
Speaking to Berea Mail, Dr Glen said he conducts these tours around three times a year at the Gardens, for the Botanical Society of South Africa and the National Society.
“On my tour, I like to show the ‘edibles’ and foodies will enjoy seeing some of their much-loved ingredients live, such as cinnamon and chocolate. I also take the group to see the Annatto, the seeds of which are used in Carribean cooking. They give an earthy flavour to food, and turn orange. The seeds are used to colour cheddar cheese and ladies’ lipstick and the flowers are an ice-cream pink. This tree thrives on neglect,” he said.
The next stop on the tour is to two timber trees which stand next to each other, the Iroko, which is from the Congo to West Africa. He said the Umgeni Steam Rail use this wood to restore wood carriages as it is an ideal replacement for teak.
“The original carriages were teak on the outside and mahogany on the inside. You can’t get mahogany these days, but we are lucky to have one growing in Durban, the Swietenia, which was so named by an 18th century botanist,” he said,
He next considers the sad story of the world’s loneliest tree, the Wood Cycad. He said there has only ever been one male tree found.
“This tree has been in the Gardens since 1907 and has no mate. The good news is it produces cones with pollen from time to time. The Pretoria University and Cycad Society have used the pollen to pollinate the Natal Giant Cycad and raise hybrids. The tree in the Gardens is at least 1000 years old,” he said.
The next stop is the Bay Rum Tree which is found near the Amphitheatre, which is used to make Brill Cream. He said it can also be used as a substitute for All Spice, which is usually found on the spice rack.
“I also show people the Kaurie Pines which are enormous and some of the most beautiful trees I know. Then there is the Banyan Tree which is found in every Indian village, and a market usually takes place under one! Rudyard Kipling includes this tree in his book The Jungle Book,” he said.
Dr Glen said the Gardens, as the oldest recorded Botanic Gardens in Africa, boasts 101 trees which are over 120 years old. The Gardens were first opened in 1849 near the Umgeni River and moved to its current site in 1851.
Join Dr Glen on the walk and find out more about these amazing trees. Entrance is R50 which will go towards Hugh’s daughter Melissa’s medical costs. Booking is essential. Contact the BotSoc Branch Office: email: botsoc-kzn@mweb.co.za, 031 2015111 or : 071 8 693 693.
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