Take a good traveling anytime!
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Tropical Icons, Nothing conjures up an image of paradise faster than the humble palm tree |
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Whether lining a coral-white beach front or framing a glittering Buddhist temple, the coconut palm, the “tree of life” is an essential element of the archetypal tropical paradise. Like many of the seasoned travelers who find their way to Thailand’s fabled beaches, the coconut is an intrepid voyager. It’s the only palm that is common to both the old and the new worlds, and is capable of months-long sea journeys that span thousands of miles. With probable origins in Southeast Asia, it has spread by ocean currents and human migration across the tropical world. Growing to 25 meters or more, the coconut palm has a slender, leaning trunk rising from a swollen base and is crowned with a parasol of fronds. Thailand’s islands and coastal areas, with their generally sandy, well-drained soil plus both abundant sun and rainfall, provide ideal growing conditions, making this country one of the top producers in the world. Most iconographic of all the tropical palms, the coconut is also the most versatile and important in economic terms. But the visitor encounters a wide variety of other palms. More than 160 species are found in Thailand where, as in much of tropical Asia, a number of them together represent a vital part of the rural economy – indeed, these plants are second only to grains in worldwide importance. Palms also serve far more diverse uses than do the grains, while at the same time they’re prized for their beauty – whether in gardens or growing wild, their distinctive appearance adds much to our enjoyment of the landscape. Although most palm species are distinguished by their single trunk and crown of leaves, some grow in clumps; still others are creepers or even climbers. Many individual species themselves serve a variety of uses. Taken together, the palms – sap, fruit, hearts and growing tips – are an important food source. Palms also provide beverages, medicines, cosmetics and cleaning products. They are also used as building materials of all sorts, including timber, planks and thatch; furniture and household items such as woven mats, baskets, and ropes; agricultural implements; clothing; fuel; chemicals and industrial products; fertilizer; ornamental plants; jewelry; musical instruments; paper and books; weapons; and a wide variety of handicrafts. Properly frayed, coconut root can even make a handy toothbrush on those mornings you wake up on the beach similarly frayed and wondering what’s going on. There follow some species visitors are likely to see during their travels in the Kingdom. Some are unique to the country – indeed, some are only found in tiny areas – while others are indigenous to Southeast Asia or the whole of tropical Asia. A couple is relatively recent interlopers from other continents. Sugar palms, which are thought to have originated in Malaysia, generally grow to about 10 meters, and are an especially important crop in a number of southern Thai provinces, where you may see them, for example, standing along narrow dikes that run between the rice fields. The oil palm, indigenous to West Africa, was transplanted to commercial plantations in Malaysia, and then brought to Thailand. It is believed to be the most recently domesticated palm, and has been cultivated on plantations for only about 100 years (far fewer than that in Thailand). This graceful plant resembles the coconut tree, growing to 25 or 30 meters in its natural habitat, or 10 to 15 meters under cultivation. Its oil is used for food, medicine and industrial applications. Compared with other oilseed crops, minimal investment is needed; and, given the potential market represented by the food, Thailand is seeking to expand plantation operations. Rattan palms originated in southwestern Asia, but are now widely distributed in the wild tropics and are increasingly cultivated on plantations. The longest woody vine in the world, most species are distinguished by flexible stems with thorns that hook onto taller plants and ride up with them as they grow towards the sun. Common applications include cane furniture, walking sticks and wickerwork and the fruit and shoots of many are edible. Rattan tends to be associated with the thick jungle that grows along trails and streams in otherwise dark rain forest. Some palms are primarily decorative, an outstanding example being the royal palm. This stately tree, with its smooth gray trunk, grows to about 30 meters. A New World import, it is often planted in imposing rows on the grounds of official buildings around Thailand. The traveler’s palm, a naturalized alien from Madagascar, is also a decorative plant. But it’s not a palm tree at all; it’s more closely related to the bananas. Its name may derive from the natural cups at the base of the leaves, from which travelers can sip water. The nipa, often in association with mangroves, characteristically grows in muddy soils along brackish streams and estuaries. It is thought to be one of the oldest palms, and has long been broadly distributed across Asia and the Pacific. The fronds are widely used for thatching roofs and weaving household goods. The clusters of purplish fruit are used in desserts. Like the nipa, the sago palm grows in wet areas, but it prefers fresh water. Originating in the area extending from southern Japan to Indonesia, and growing to about three meters tall and two in diameters, in Thailand it is found mainly in the far south. While almost every part of the plant finds a use, the main product is the starchy pith of the stalk, which serves as food and animal feed. Most types of palm inhabit rain forests. On Phuket, Khao Phra Thaeo – the last remaining patch of virgin rain forest – was first declared an official reserve in part because it’s the only known habitat of Kerriodoxa elegans, a distinctive species of palm with a fan-shaped leaf that reportedly grows in clumps there and nowhere else in the world. Beyond that, an especially rich variety and number of palms thrive in this forest. Moving all the way to the north of the country, another unique indigenous species is the Thai mountain fan palm, a striking presence on the ridge of the Doi Chiang Dao range in northwestern Thailand, its only known habitat, except perhaps for some highland areas of northern Burma. And these are only two of many more unique indigenous species. Still, it’s the coconut palm that presents the most powerful symbol of lazy tropical getaways. Remember this the next time you’re lying on a local beach, aiming for maximum exposure to the sun’s rays: the many leaflets that comprise the coconut palm frond are each capable of turning to follow the progress of the sun across the sky. As the sun makes its way across the sky, both palms and humans – at least those individuals who resist the wisdom that excessive sun is unhealthy – subtly re-orient themselves so as to enjoy maximum exposure. On the other hand, some people like to sprawl beneath coconut palms to escape the sun, and a few unfortunates have had coconuts drop on their heads. This is much less likely an accident than sunburn, but considerably more fatal. Still, it is about as likely an eventuality as getting struck by lightning, and we mention it here only to add a touch of adventure to your tropical getaway. | ||||||
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 October 2008 ) | ||||||
