Plumeria rubra
By Robb Vandaveer
Last updated: August 19, 2002
Credits: Original Plumeria rubra photograph by Chelsie Vandaveer.
The frangipani (Plumeria rubra) is native to Mexico where it has been cultivated for several thousand years. The Mayans revered this fragrant tree for it was created by K'akoch, the father of the gods. From the flowers of the bak nikte' were born the children of the supreme creator; these were the gods who watched over the Earth and the affairs of humanity. After the Spanish conquest, the Mayans added a son of the bak nikte' —Hesuklistos (Jesus Christ), the god of foreigners. The Aztecs so admired the cacaloxochilt that it was punishable by death for a common person to pick or even stop to smell the flowers. The plumeria was the symbol of immortality for it was used medicinally as a stimulant and restorative. [Tell me more...]
Description: This image was created using Photoshop 6.
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