Tree of life

Discussion in 'Trees' started by ljasmine, Mar 11, 2008.

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  1. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] Presuming we are talking about the same plant. They are not at all easy from seed RWM, I have found one mention of growing from seed. Usually you propagate from plantlets or leaves.
    But as far as I know the seeds need light to germinate.

    They will usually germinate in 30-90 days, even under good conditions germination may be erratic.

    Normally they will only germinate with light. Sow the seeds on the surface of a Well drained seed sowing mix at about 22Ã?°C in a propagator & wait. Make sure they do not dry out so mist them as necessary.. [​IMG] Good Luck..!!
     
    Marley Farley, Mar 12, 2008
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  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I once came across a piece of Lignum Vitae, Marley.
    Its the hardest timber I've seen, probably equal to or exceeding ebony for hardness and weight.
    If you could smuggle a ten foot length into your luggage next time you go it could be worth something over here. :D :D
     
    pete, Mar 12, 2008
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  3. Sarraceniac

    Sarraceniac Gardener

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    It exceeds ebony Pete. It is the only wood that naturally sinks in water.
     
    Sarraceniac, Mar 12, 2008
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  4. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] It certainly is a hard wood Pete & yes it does sink John because of the resin.. In Jamaica you can still find carvings from it but they are scarce.. In my book I have a list of uses...
    [​IMG] It is a native of Jamaica & thrives in an are near where our place is, so will see if I can at least get some pics when I go in April..
     
    Marley Farley, Mar 12, 2008
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  5. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Thats it, its self lubricating, like the timber version of bronze, the piece I saw was a cog wheel.
    I think they used to use it for packers either side of large circular rip saws
     
    pete, Mar 12, 2008
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  6. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] Pretty amazing stuff then Pete, served us well in the past I think.. [​IMG] Nature is certainly wonderful... I love the Redwoods for their natural insecticide not only when they are living, but also when the wood is used for whatever use, it is still there... [​IMG]
     
    Marley Farley, Mar 12, 2008
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  7. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Yes, we seem to have lost touch with the natural products and their properties these days.
    Most things can be manufactured synthetically now, and although it makes life easier, its a pity to lose the old ideas and methods, particually the ones that really worked.
     
    pete, Mar 12, 2008
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  8. Daisies

    Daisies Total Gardener

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    Jeepers! I nearly had a heart attack!! On another forum I help on, we had a member called Tree of Life that was a terrible problem and got himself banned so many times, then said sorry and was let back - etc. When I saw this title I thought "OH NO - he's followed me here now!!"

    So glad it's just a nice piece of horticulture!!

    Phew!!
     
    Daisies, Mar 13, 2008
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  9. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :D Well of course Daisees... Only the best here.. ;) :D :D :D :D
     
    Marley Farley, Mar 13, 2008
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  10. johnbinkley

    johnbinkley Gardener

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    MF, that brought back memories for me! When I was an apprenticed patternmaker 40years ago I actually had a piece of lignum vitae. I think it was used in cretain applications of patternmaking. Wonderful material. Never had the good fortune to actually work on it though.
    Cheers,
    John
     
    johnbinkley, Mar 13, 2008
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  11. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I don't know anything about lignum vitae but when we were on holiday we saw a lot of Kauri wood. Apparently it is so tough that they are now digging 10,000 year old fallen trees out of swamps and are able to use them for construction and furniture :eek:

    The Victorians even used the wood for machine parts when they couldn't get enough iron.

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    and the tree has a secretion like amber that when soft was used as a sweet syrup and when hard is used for jewellery.

    [​IMG]
     
    shiney, Mar 13, 2008
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  12. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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    Incredible, shiney, what fantastic wood ... the first definitely looks metallic, the second looks like pure silk and the third looks like a piece of hot lava!

    How fascinating, must look a bit further into this, just out of curiosity. Thank you for sharing this information.

    [ 13. March 2008, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]
     
    Victoria, Mar 13, 2008
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  13. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] Isn't it fantastic what nature can do Shiney.. What fantastic wood the Kauri is too Shiney.. I found this gallery of some of the differnt things that have been made from it.. They are beautiful, have a look here... There are 5 galleries plus loads of info...
    http://www.thewoodturnersstudio.co.nz/pages/Gallery2.htm

    Bobj it musy have been quite something to work with woods like the Lignum
    Lignum Vitea seems to to not be used very much these days & was even protected for a while in some places as it got so scarce. Apperently you can still buy it today but it comes mainly from Argentina these days.. In Jamaica they are only allowed to use storm damaged trees..

    There is a wood carver who lives outside Negril who got some after a hurricane a few years ago & he has done some beautiful carvings from it..
    I cannot find any pics of his work but did find these by somebody else. I have put the pics up as it is really beautiful wood I think...

    * [​IMG]

    These show you the colour differences a little better...

    * [​IMG]
     
    Marley Farley, Mar 13, 2008
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  14. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I like the face, M F. [​IMG]

    Thanks for the link. The page on there entitled Kauri Gum shows some ornaments and jewellery made from the gum. It was quite popular out there.

    I went to the Kauri Museum and have a few good photos which I shall put up when I eventually get around to a thread on New Zealand.
     
    shiney, Mar 13, 2008
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  15. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] There was some interesting stuff on the link shiney I agree, amazing what people can think of & I look forward to your New Zealand thread as well... [​IMG]
     
    Marley Farley, Mar 13, 2008
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