Madeira. Susanne Lipps
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of the Quinta Vigia (198). In Machico you will find a Kapok Tree next to the town hall, in Caniço at the Parking of Quinta Spléndida.
Interesting to know:
The Brazilian Kapok Tree is native to the savan-nahs of Brazil and Argentina. The fruits contain about 100 black seeds with white, woolly hairs that are distributed by wind. The Common Kapok Tree/Silk Cotton Tree (Ceiba pentandra) that does not grow on Madeira but is cultivat-ed on Asian plantations disposes of seed hairs that are of commercial value. They are waxy and do not absorb water - thus they are used to produce life jackets, lifebelts and mattresses.
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In the Gardens
Sausage Tree, Fetish Tree
Kigelia africana
Bloom time
From June to August.
Characteristics
The colour of the trumpet-shaped blossoms ranges from deep red to purple. They hang in loose panicles on long stalks. The typical sausage-like fruits are developing from the blossoms. Some are longish, others bulbous. The leaves of this tree that reaches a height of 5 m (5,5 yd.) are pinnate and fall off in winter.
Site:
You will find the Sausage Tree growing only in the south up to an altitude of 100 m (110 yd.). It is hardly ever cultivated in gardens and parks. Three beautiful specimens are situated in the Jardim Municipal in Funchal (198), another one in the Parque Santa Catarina (198). Two other specimens are to be found in the Quinta Magnólia (199).
Interesting to know:
The Sausage Tree is indigenous to West Africa. In this humid and warm regions it grows up to 20 m (22 yd.); the fruits may be up to 1 m (3,3‘) long and weigh up to 10 kg. The specimens that grow in Madeira’s gardens do not reach these dimen-sions. The fleshy fruits are inedible; anyway they are used in Africa by traditional medicine and magic. They are supposed to cure rheumatism, snake bits and syphilis as well as to protect from evil ghosts. The flowers only blossom one night. At daytime you only see buds or wilted blooms.
20
In the Gardens
African Tulip Tree,
Flame of the Forest
Spathodea campanulata
Bloom time
All year round.
Characteristics
The decorative tree can reach a height up to 25 m (28 yd.). Its dark green leaves are pinnate. Round inflorescences are situated on the surface of the dense, spherical crown. The tulip-like flowers are coloured from orange to scarlet and are slightly curved towards the centre of the blossom cluster.
Site:
In the southern coastal area of Madeira you will frequently find the tree as an ornamen-tal plant up to an altitude of 200 m (220 yd.). It lines town roads and grows in gardens and parks. In Funchal you find some speci-mens in the Parque Santa Catarina (198), in the Avenida do Infante and in the Avenida Luis Camões that leads towards the hospital.
Interesting to know:
The tree is native to the African savannahs where, in contrast to Madeira, it sheds its leaves in the arid season. Today it is one of the most popular ornamental plants in all countries that correspond to its climatic requirements. It is a fast growing tree; the wood is hardly usable. The outer buds bloom first while the inner, brown and hairy buds still remain closed. Birds in search of nectar will land on the latter ones. On Madeira, pollination is not taking place.
21
In the Gardens
Blue Jacaranda,
Brazilian Rosewood
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Bloom time
From April to May.
Characteristics
The gnarled growing tree grows up to 20 m (22 yd.) tall. In winter it sheds off its leaves. Before they sprout again in spring the bleak tree develops the popular blue-violet panicles of flowers. They consist of many single blossoms. As those of many fern species, the tender leaves are bipinnate.
Site:
In the south of Madeira the Blue Jacaranda is growing in gardens and parks up to an altitude of 300 m (330 yd.). In Funchal, Jacaranda is lining whole streets. There you may discover an especially conspicuous effect of the flowers at the end of April when they produce strongly violet shining avenues, e.g. in Avenida Arriaga, in Avenida do Infante or in Rua João de Deus.
Interesting to know:
The tree origins from the savannahs of South Brazil. The Portuguese explorers adapted the Indian name: the “j” at the beginning is pro-nounced like in journal, the emphasis is on the last syllable. Today Jacaranda is cultivated in many countries because of its spectacu-lar flowers. It is said that in Pretoria (South Africa) there are cultivated 6000 specimens.
22
In the Gardens
Pride of Bolivia, Tipu Tree
Tipuana tipu
Bloom time
From June to September; dur-ing this time there are con-stantly emerging new blos-soms.
Characteristics
The imposing tree has dense foliage and a broad crown. It grows up to 10 m (11 yd.) tall. The long leaves are pinnate; the single com-pounds are longish and ovate. The yellow blossoms emerge from short panicles.
Site:
Although you may find the Pride of Bolivia on Madeira in regions up to an altitude of 600 m (655 yd.), it mainly grows in coastal areas. Especially in Funchal the tree is lin-ing many roads, e.g. the Avenida Zarco or the Rua Arcipreste behind the market hall.
Interesting to know:
The tree is native to South America