* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Page - 18
Gartons Agricultural Plant Breeders wikipedia , lookup
History of botany wikipedia , lookup
Plant stress measurement wikipedia , lookup
Plant use of endophytic fungi in defense wikipedia , lookup
Plant defense against herbivory wikipedia , lookup
Plant reproduction wikipedia , lookup
Ornamental bulbous plant wikipedia , lookup
Plant nutrition wikipedia , lookup
Plant secondary metabolism wikipedia , lookup
Plant physiology wikipedia , lookup
Plant breeding wikipedia , lookup
Plant evolutionary developmental biology wikipedia , lookup
Plant ecology wikipedia , lookup
Plant morphology wikipedia , lookup
Sustainable landscaping wikipedia , lookup
Verbascum thapsus wikipedia , lookup
www.pahana.com.au KATHURUMURUNGA OR HUMMINGBIRD TREE IN AUSTRALIA It is very hard to grow in Melbourne climate especially during winter period. The plant’s early rapid growth and erect habit usually enables to access sunlight by overtopping neighbouring plants. Roots are heavily modulated with large nodules. During waterlogging and floods, the plant develops floating roots and protective spongy tissues. Plant is intolerant of high winds that can break stems and branches. Lifespan of kathurumurunga is about 20 years. Plant can be propagated by seeds or plant cuttings. Seed is immediately germinable without requirements for scarification and deteriorates rapidly in viability. Uses Red Kathurumurunga plant – Mackay – Queensland Kathurumurunga mallum and sambol are favourites among many Sri Lankan over the years. Bundles of this leafy vegetable are sold in markets and supermarkets in Sri Lanka. I would like to explore some information about this plant as it has been present in Australian landscape especially in tropical parts (Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia) of the country. Botanical name: GRANDIFLORA SESBANIA Family: Fabaceae Common names: Kathurumurunga (Sinhalese), agathi (Tamil), Australian corkwood tree, hummingbird tree or white dragon tree (English). Kathurumurunga is another one of Mother Nature’s artful creation that is ornamental and versatile originated in Asia especially India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Its native range extends to Burma and Australia. According to the World Agro Forestry Centre, the precise origin is unknown. It has been widely distributed in Southern Florida and West Indies from Southern Mexico through most countries of Central America to South America and some parts of Africa. The plant widely cultivated as ornamental or vegetable in tropical Asia. But it is not a commercial crop, and the flowers do not sit in wicker baskets awaiting sale in the major produce markets. Instead, they manage a humble existence growing in the banks near major crops and gardens. are yellowish green and the flowers are similar to parrots beak. There are red and white coloured species as kathurymurunga. You can grow this species as a beautiful garden ornamental in your garden. Kathurumurunga is an upright, fast growing soft wooded open branching evergreen legume tree grows 3-15 meters tall. The stem is straight and cylindrical, diameter up to cm. The wood is white and soft. The leaves, up to 30 cm long, are pinnately compound with 20-50 oblong leaflets, 1-4 cm long and 0.5 – 1.5 cm wide. It has exceptionally pea flowers which range in colour from white, cream, pink and red. The flowers are pollinated by birds. It is able to produce ripe pods by 9 months after planting. Seed pods are 50 60 cm long, narrow and hang vertically. Pods are initially green and turn dark brown to black when matured. They contain 1550 dark brown seeds, 5 mm long and 2.5 – 3 mm broad. Plant can tolerate a wide range of soils including alkaline, poorly drained, saline or low fertility. It is well adapted to heavy clay soils. Kathurumurunga can grow up to 800 m above sea level but occasionally to 1000 m environments with mean annual temperatures of 22-30 Celsius. This plant is frost sensitive and intolerant of extended periods of cool temperatures. The tender leaves, green fruit and flowers are eaten alone as a vegetable or mixed into curries, mallum or salad. Flowers can be dipped in batter and fried in butter. The flowers are also bitter and astringent, but the white are less than the red. It is possible to reduce the bitterness by removing the stamen (mal renu). It is best to choose the flowers that have not yet bloomed as these will be softer and less leathery. All parts (leaves, flowers, bark and roots) of the Kathurumurunga plant have been used for folk medicine in India and Sri Lanka. Its health benefits are exhaustive and the plant features in a number of traditional remedies dating back thousands of years. In Ayurveda, plant leaves treat fever, sinus and respiratory problems. It acts as a coolant, purgative and worm killer. It has the potential to treat toxicoses and itching. Flowers are used to treat night blindness, headaches, catarrh, cough and fevers. The plant has been used as a fodder tree throughout Indonesia especially during dry season feeding of cattle and goats. It is commonly grown on paddy field bunds and around gardens or cropping fields for its nitrogen contribution to the soil. Cutting management has a very important influence on the productivity of kathurumurunga. It cannot survive repeated cutting. In Indonesia, farmers have devised a system where only the side branches of tree are cut for fodder leaving the main growing stem untouched. There is another plant species very similar appearance to kathurumurunga plant which is available in plant nurseries especially in Melbourne. That species is Kaka Beak (CLIANTHUS MAXIMUS), a New Zealnd native plant but not kathurumurunga. This plant is a small bush, not growing straight as kathurumurunga. Leaves 18 Kathurumurunga plant has several environmental benefits as well. As a fast growing Nitrogen fixing legume, it is used for the reforestation of eroded areas and to improve soil fertility. It is often planted to make fence lines or as shade tree, windbreak and support for other crops. NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF KATHURUMURUNGA FLOWERS (Per 100 g) Energy - 113 kJ (27 kcal) Carbohydrates - 6.73 g Fat - 0.04 g Protein - 1.28 g Thiamine (B1) - 0.083 mg Riboflavin (B2) - 0.081 mg Niacin (B3) - 0.43 mg Folate (B9) - 102 micro g Vitamin C - 73 mg Calcium - 19 mg Iron - 0.84 mg Magnesium - 12 mg Phosphorus - 30 mg Potassium - 184 mg Source: USDA Nutrient Database Leaves (100g) contain the following nutritive values. Energy - 390 kJ (93 kcal) Carbohydrates - 12 g Fat -1g Protein -8g Fibre -2g Moisture - 73 g Calcium - 1130 mg Phosphorous - 80 mg Iron - 4 mg It seems that leaves are an excellent source of calcium and iron. The abundance of these nutrients is a reason for its reputation as a bone strengthener. Pictures and Text by Dr. Lalith Gunasekera Kaka Beak Flowers: red NOVEMBER 2015 PAHANA - LIGHT & LIFE Cream or white flowers Invasive Plants Specialist MACKAY - QUEENSLAND