Flower Photos and Facts: Misty Plume

Scientific Name: Iboza Riparia/Tetradenia Riparia

This one's been in the pending identification files for a few years.

It taught me a lesson: Never start thinking the wife and her sister, are crazy, again.

They kept insisting the name of the plant was Mayflower (メイフラワ-). Huh ?

Before posting anything , botanical online, I like to insure accuracy.

Three or four years ago, I first noticed these blossoms, starting around February.

They bloom in cities, along rivers, up in the hills and all over the countryside.

Ask any Okinawan and, they don't what it is or, they say Mayflower.

If, you go online and search for Mayflowers, ya ain't gonna see anything like this.

The Plant Experts Live in Holland

The wife, her sister, librarians, everyone, I apologize for thinking they were nuts.

It took a few days, after submitting some photos but, I got it now.

A Facebook Closed Group, some sweetheart hooked me up with, nailed it.

Determinatie van planten en dieren is my source. Bless them all.

A Latin, Scientific or, Botanical nomenclature, does the trick every time.

Only in Okinawa, Japan is this called a Mayflower.

Common Names

 English: Ginger Bush, Misty Plume

Japanese: Fubukibana

Okinawan: Mayflower or Fubuki-sou

Country of Origin: Africa

Medicinal Uses: 

Respiratory problems, headaches, malaria, Influenza

Headaches, stomach aches, swollen legs, fever 

Gotta Love Survivalist Stuff

Once, I have a Latin name, the research goes on, in English and Japanese.

No sense in boring the non-gardening readers with details.

Like, fragrance, soil conditions and propagation instructions.

Links provided below, will get flower fanatics, whatever they need.

This is a mystical plant and, I must quote from the source:

"Mrs Doom was ill with swollen glands, sore throat, headache, sore ears, blocked sinus,

 and was generally miserable.

I made a very simple concoction which was gargled, and then drank (I will detail the

 recipe and treatment later). Immediately the sore throat was soothed and the

 headache dulled, shortly after her sinuses cleared, about 30 minutes after treatment

 her headache was gone, not long after her glands went down, and finally her ears

 stopped hurting. She felt fantastic. This plant is magic."

Certainly, the man did some deep research probably, more thorough than, mine.

Not sure whether Mrs Doom is his wife or mother-in-law.

Suppose, he just puts a Mrs. Doom name tag on the poor gal, for scientific studies.

Anyhow, everything seems to have turned out just fine, I'm glad to report.

Visit the Doom Survival Guide for more. It's fascinating !

RESOURCES ENGLISH:

Dave's Garden

Mountain Herb Estate

Sanbi: Tetradenia riparia

Sprig: Iboza the Wonder Plant

Top Tropicals

Wikipedia

JAPANESE:

フブキバナ

Okinawa Life Photoblog

Plant Nadoyama Blog

Wikipedia

Plant Photos: Ginnem (ギンネム) White Lead Tree

Called a Miracle Tree

It's been used as erosion control, firewood, green manure, fodder and human food.

Originally from Central America and Mexico, it was brought to the Philippines by the Spanish.

More than likely, it was brought to Okinawa, after World War II.

If, you've ever seen how this island was obliterated, you'd understand why.

Rapid growing trees, were needed to prevent flooding, landslides and some shade.

This miracle tree could do that and more. Like feed cattle and humans.

The plant starts off, looking like some sort of shrub but, turns into a tree really fast.

About the time of year, the little white head flowers bloom, you seen these seed pods.

The photo above, was taken, of a plant that just appeared to be a shrub.

Just out of curiosity, I shot some photos, to get an identification.

It would be nice to know if, those peapod-looking things are edible.

It was one of those days, I went to the Kin Dam, planning on shooting birds.

Eventually, the ospreys arrived overhead and, I forgot all about shooting stupid weeds.

With awesome blue skies and 420MM of lens, what would you have done ?

The choice became, shoot flying osprey birds or trees. Bye bye trees !

Along Comes Coincidence 

Somebody on Facebook contacted me asking about edible wild things growing in Okinawa.

The "Suspect" is what, I'll call the individual for now, to maintain their privacy.

Suspect, would like to paddle around the island, like some sort of a survivalist.

And, wanted to know what references, I use to find edible plants, flowers and trees.

There's nothing (English) I've ever found, that covers this subject on Okinawa.

References, I use were provided and, I told the Suspect, "Somebody needs to write a book."

It's a real pain, for me to research, flowers and plants, to see if they are poisonous or, edible.

Publish a book on Okinawa's vegetation and, it might become a million seller.

Even if, it didn't, I'd buy a few copies. Today, I learned something about this tree.

• The leaves provide excellent fodder for livestock and, the wood makes good charcoal
• Young green pods may be opened and, seeds can be eaten cooked or, raw
• Plant a small tree and it could reach 20 feet in height after just 2 or 3 years
• Dry the seeds from mature (brown) pods and, you can make a sort of coffee
• Some crackpot in Florida, cautions against eating any of this plant but, she's wrong

Over at Eat the Weeds

They say, you can even, take matured seeds and turn them into popcorn !

This Gets Exciting !

Now, I have an excuse to get in better shape and learn how to paddle a boat at sea.

Just a few months of weight lifting and doing rowing exercises and, I'll be ready.

When the weather warms up again, I'll get a hold of the survivalist and, off we'll go.

Thing is, I'll have to be in good enough condition, to do all the paddling, by myself.

Just in case, the Suspect gets poisoned and, I have to row the carcass home !