Cool Temps on a Summer Day. Plant of the Day: Grapefruit Tree "Citrus x paradisi"

June in Minnesota! This year, June started out quite warm in Minnesota. Today, however, cool temperatures reigned both outside of and inside the conservatory. I wasn't able to achieve the usual "a-ha" moment of warmth when I walked from the outside Minnesota cool into the tropical conservatory environment. The Como staff weren't ready for the cold air mass that Mother Nature imposed on the region.

Fortunately, because I love humid air, the air feels considerably more humid in the North Garden, a feeling enhanced in my own mind by the viewing of water droplets both dripping slowly from plants and perching very precariously on leaf edges everywhere I look. In contrast to most other days, the conservatory is very quiet today with a noticeable dearth of visitors.

Young cacao pods growing in the
North Garden.

After planting myself near the fruiting cacao tree, I met Como staff person Lucinda (usually called 'Lucy', I quickly learned), a student at the University of Minnesota, majoring in political science. We had a very nice conversation about zoo conservation and environmental politics.

The Plant of the Day is the tropical evergreen grapefruit tree, Citrus x paradisi. The grapefruit tree is thought to be an accidental hybrid between sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and pomelo (C. maxima).

A very large number of studies have shown numerous health benefits of consuming this fruit. These benefits include a significant amount of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Additional benefits include boosts to human immune systems, better control of insulin levels, better blood sugar control, a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and improved heart health through the provision of potassium and fiber. By binding with calcium in the kidneys and flushing it out of the body, citric acid, found in grapefruit, is thought to help prevent kidney stones.

Grapefruit interferes with statins - DO NOT TAKE, if you are on a statin!

Unfortunately, eating grapefruit is not for everyone. For some people, consuming grapefruit and/or its juice may lead to medication interactions. Therefore anyone who is on medication should ask their doctor if they can safely eat grapefruit. Citric acid, found in citrus fruits, is a common cause of enamel erosion. So those with sensitive teeth should avoid acidic fruits.

Grapefruit juice is marketed as a beverage, dehydrated as powder, or concentrated and frozen. It can be made into an excellent vinegar or carefully fermented as wine. Grapefruit peel is candied and is an important source of pectin for the preservation of other fruits.

The waste from grapefruit packing plants can be converted into molasses for cattle. After oil extraction, the seed hulls can be used for soil conditioning or combined with dried pulp and used as cattlefeed.

Old grapefruit trees can be salvaged for their wood. The sapwood is pale-yellow or nearly white, the heartwood yellow to brownish, hard, fine-grained, and useful for domestic purposes. Pruned branches and felled trees are cut up for firewood.

An essence prepared from the flowers is taken for medicinal purposes to overcome insomnia, aid with stomach issues or as a cardiac tonic. The pulp is considered an effective aid in the treatment of urinary disorders. Leaf extractions have shown antibiotic activity.

Florida is home to some grapefruit orchards. Mexico exports some grapefruit to Canada and Japan, but exports the largest quantities to the United States. Cuba has planted 370,000 acres (150,000 ha) of citrus, mostly grapefruit with goals of exporting to the Soviet Union and eastern European countries. In Australia, grapefruit is commercially processed as marmalade and is also made into jelly. Grapefruit is also grown in many other countries like Spain, South Africa and Brazil.

For more information:
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-grapefruit.html
https://authoritynutrition.com/10-benefits-of-grapefruit/
https://www.britannica.com/plant/grapefruit
https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/grapefruit.html
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Citrus+x+paradisi
http://www.foodswinesfromspain.com/spanishfoodwine/global/products-recipes/products/more-about-products/4541911.html

Tropical Dream States. Plant of the Day: Ramie, "Boehmeria nivea"

Being pulled into an unexpected busy spring, I have not been able to volunteer here for a couple of months. Now back, with my very first step into the lush, green conservatory, I felt my mind relaxing into a tropical dream state. I felt the muscles in my body relaxing as if I had just received a long, slow, professional full body massage. It was so great to be back!

Sunken Garden Summer Flower Show

As I walk into the North Garden, I see a reflection of the lushness of the tropical forest, with many plants sprouting, in varying levels of intensity, with new foliage and fruit. Walking around the garden, I easily find bananas, jackfruit, papayas, cherries, cacao pods, peppers, oranges, lines, guava and more. On this beautiful morning, in addition to being reacquainted with the gardens, I had the pleasure of meeting several new Como staff - Frank, Pierre and Terri.

Responding to the floral sensations wafting to my nose, I walk over to the Summer Flower Show, a sensory experience that moves the sight and smell. This flower bonanza is now ongoing until this fall. Periodically, gardening staff will make changes to different areas of the flower displays, so everyone should make sure to stop by at various times over the summer to view their spectacular visions of color and texture.

The plant of the day is Ramie, Boehmeria nivea. This plant is also called the Chinese Silk Plant, Chinese grass, white ramie or green ramie. This plant has been used for thousands of years to produce ramie, a strong, silky fiber, most commonly for various uses of textiles like cloth products like clothes, sheets, towels, napkins, parachute fabric or sails. Other product uses include shoelaces, carpet backing, sewing thread, fish nets, mosquito nets, fire hoses and upholstery. Ramie fibers have stronger tensile strength than flax, wool, silk or cotton, and are said to be resistant to mildew, fungus and bacteria.

Ramie plant in North Garden

In some areas of the world, ramie plants may be fed to rabbits, chicken, cattle, goats or other animals with the feed consisting of the leaves and stem tops of the plant. Ramie leaves are utilized in the preparation of a particular cake considered a delicacy in Vietnam.

In Malaysia, this plant is used medicinally to treat ulcers, dysentery and flatulence. In the Dominican Republic Congo, this plant is used in traditional medicine to treat such maladies as skin conditions, wounds, eye inflictions, diarrhea or rhinitis. In Indo-China and Taiwan, it used as a diuretic and as treatment for a number of disorders like dysuria and urogenital inflammation.

Textiles from ramie are an important component of regional economies around the world. China leads in the production of ramie and exports mainly to Japan and Europe. Other producers include Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Brazil. Products with ramie components are found all around the world.

For more information:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=242351&isprofile=0&
https://www.britannica.com/plant/ramie
http://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Boehmeria_nivea_(PROTA)

Mental Relaxation. Plant of the Day: Violet Stemmed Taro - "Colocasia esculenta"

Good day for mental relaxation in this lush green tropical setting. Weather forecasts for this week predicted up to 10 inches of snow, but a last minute shift of the storm resulted in zero snow for this area. This is bittersweet because, while not wanting to shovel, I was looking forward to seeing old man winter's glistening white blanket covering our current snow-free landscapes. C'est la vie!

A new plant has been introduced in the North Garden. This new plant is a humongous bromeliad, Alcantarea imperialis, grown from a wee planting to the size you can see in the photo. This plant is out on display for a short time so visit soon for a personal look.

Alcantarea imperialis

I learned some interesting information from a visitor about a plant species in the North Garden - Curare - Chondrodendron tomentosum. Curare is used in the dip for poison arrows by South American native tribes.

The Plant of the Day is the Violet Stemmed Taro - Colocasia esculenta. This plant provides a variety of food options in multiple countries but before it can be eaten, all parts of the plant have to be cooked to break down the enclosed oxalate crystals. These crystals are considered a poison to animals. Hawaiians steam the younger plant leaves and serve them as greens while boiling and then eating the stems. The younger leaves are high in Vitamin C.

The underground stem, called the corm, is starchy and is baked, boiled, steamed or cooked then mixed to make a dish called poi, the "soul food" of Hawaii. Corm that is peeled and boiled can be frozen, canned, mashed or grated. Similar to potato chips, dried chips can be made from taro.

Violet Stemmed Taro

The taro is used for a variety of medicinal uses. Poi has been used to treat skin problems like infected sores or to treat diarrhea. Raw taro juice has been used to reduce fever. The petiole (stem leaf) can be cut and applied as treatment to the skin to stop a small area of surface bleeding or to treat an insect sting.

Before the 20th century, there were several hundred varieties of Taro in Hawaii. The 20th century brought monoculture into the scene and now there are only seven to twelve varieties cultivated in Hawaii. This makes this species more vulnerable to disease and extinction. Farmers, scientists and environmentalists are working to promote and instill agroforestry and mixed crop practices to help this species. Taro also grows in other areas like southern areas in the United States, Central America, tropical Africa, various Pacific island nations and Asia. The origin, diversification and dispersal of taro are currently unknown.

For more information:

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/colocasia-esculenta/

http://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/ethnobotany.php?b=d&ID=kalo

http://ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=3155

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0157712
http://www.feedipedia.org/node/537

Cheerful Colors. Plant of the Day: Annatto, aka Achiote - "Bixa orellana" - the Lipstick Tree

2017 Winter Show

Partly sunny today with a forecasted high of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The Winter Flower Show in the Sunken Garden continues to please the eyes and brighten the mind. Gardeners and volunteers are to be congratulated on their phenomenal ability to blend cheerful colors, textures and plant height into a beautiful and colorful mindful and aromatic sensory experience. The last day to enjoy this feast for the eyes is Sunday, March 12th.

Multiple plants in the North Garden are providing a show of fruit and flowers. The jackfruit is starting to bloom fruit in various sections of the tree. I was pleased to see a maturing cherry on the Surinam cherry tree, Eugenia uniflora, near the big fig tree in the back of the room. Multiple cacao pods are hanging on the chocolate tree (yes, there's a chocolate tree in here!).

Surinam cherry

The plant of the day is the Annatto - Bixa orellana, also known as the Lipstick Tree. This plant is considered a shrub but can take the shape of and look like a small tree. This shrub is called the Lipstick Tree because dyes are made from the red seeds. In addition to lipstick, as a natural dye, annatto paste has been used for: body painting during festivals, fabric dye, crafts, murals, varnish, soap and cosmetics.

In addition to dyes, the seeds have been used for medicinal purposes to treat various ailments including skin disorders, constipation, asthma and nausea. The Piura rainforest tribe makes a tea using young shoots to use on skin disorders, to treat fevers and other conditions. A leaf concoction of annatto is used in Brazil herbal medicine to treat stomach upset from spicy foods, to treat fevers and topically to treat burns. Small dosages of annatto seed powder have been used to help with cholesterol and hypertension. Various other concoctions are used in South American communities to treat a wide range of ailments.

For more information:

http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/achiote.php

http://ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?plantid=1760

http://luirig.altervista.org/pics/index5.php?recn=2648&page=1

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/content/lipstick-tree.htm

Coping with Old Man Winter - Plant of the Day: Coffee – "Coffea arabica"

Winter forms our character and

Brings out our best.

Old man winter has his arms wrapped around the northern hemisphere with a grip that states emphatically that he is with us for a while.  “Ha” he says, “What do you think of that!”  And I reply, “I think I’ll take a break from your cold grip and relax in the beautiful, tropical serenity of the Como Conservatory.”

Entrance to North Garden

Seriously folks, come visit the Conservatory to experience the lush serenity of the indoor tropical gardens of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in St. Paul.  The warm temperatures, high relative humidities, beautiful flowers and lush greenery will warm your bones and melt your heart! 

Make sure that you visit the North Garden, a repository of plants that provide social and economical benefits to communities around the world.  One of my favorite plants in this room is the coffee plant, Coffea arabica.  This is my, and possibly the world’s, favorite drink and reportedly the second most valuable international commodity after oil. This crop is grown on multiple continents in multiple countries. 

An estimated 100 million people depend on coffee for their livelihoods. Its export value alone is immense and, as such, it plays a crucial role in the economies of many countries.

In addition to its value as a rich source of antioxidants and as a necessary morning cup of joe for many (like me), other micronutrients in coffee add to the positive effects of consumption including flavonoids, magnesium, potassium, niacin and vitamin E. The caffeine in coffee is known by many to help cure headaches, but too much caffeine is also known to cause health problems. Some promote the addition of coffee grounds to prepared foods to promote the intake of antioxidants. In Japan, people imbibe the health-giving properties of ground coffee by bathing in them.  At the moment, I’ll stick to drinking my three to five cups each morning while watching the news and preparing myself for a good day’s work.

For more information:

https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Coffea_arabica.html

www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/coffea-arabica-arabica-coffee

http://www.medicaldaily.com/leftover-coffee-grounds-can-be-used-food-additives-antioxidant-boost-333388

https://www.bustle.com/articles/83865-its-healthy-to-eat-coffee-grounds-study-shows-so-stop-throwing-that-antioxidant-packed-goodness-away

https://gailfaithedwards.com/2010/09/01/the-health-benefits-of-coffee-coffea-arabica-coffea-robusta/
http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-the-coffee-industry-2011-11