What is the wine palm?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
October 4, 2002
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Voyage of the Beaglet, Easter Island Poster, Andes—>Click here.
Men's Alpaca Sweater, National Geographic Bolivian Leather Travel Briefcase—>Click here.
Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland brought the massive Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis (Mol.) Baillon) to the world's attention after their exploration of South America. (See What's in a Name, June 14, 2002) On July 23, 1834, the HMS Beagle dropped anchor in the bay of Valparaiso. In August, Charles Darwin rode into the Andes to study the marine sediments and shells found in mountains.
On August 16th, Darwin wrote, "In a few places there were palms, and I was surprised to see one at the elevation of at least 4500 feet. These palms are, for their family, ugly trees. Their stem is very large, and of a curious form, being thicker in the middle than at the base or top. They are excessively numerous in some parts of Chile, and valuable on account of a sort of treacle made from the sap. On one estate near Petorca they tried to count them, but failed, after having numbered several hundred thousand. Every year in the early spring, in August, very many are cut down, and when the trunk is lying on the ground, the crown of leaves is lopped off. The sap then immediately begins to flow from the upper end, and continues so doing for some months...." (The Voyage of the Beagle, Chapter XII, 1909)
The wine palm is the sole species of Jubaea and endemic to the Chilean Andes. The seeds are slow to germinate, from three to sixteen months; the palms are slower still to produce flowers, in some instances forty years. The wine palm grows to 25 meters (80 feet) with a trunk diameter up to 2 meters (6 feet). By the mid-1900s the palms were almost extinct because of the collection of the sap to produce syrup and wine.
Five hundred years ago, a Jubaea palm forest covered Rapa Nui (Easter Island). None of these Jubaea survived. According to Thomas Elmqvist, "[T]he island is so small that the person who felled the last tree could see that it was the last tree".
Public Broadcasting Service and Nova have posted a page about the fascinating moai (stone giants) of Rapa Nui. To learn more, click on the link:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/civilization/giants.html
Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental has an excellent article by Thomas Elmqvist on the environmental disaster on Rapa Nui. To read the article, click on the link:
http://cimar.org/biodiversity/papers/elmqvist.htm
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What plant cannot exist without a bat? Weird Plants - October 18, 2001
What is the Meyer lemon? Weird Plants - February 6, 2003
What is the Green Fairy? Plants that Changed History - October 28, 2003
What is a toddy? What's in a Name? - January 2, 2004
What is gin and tonic? What's in a Name? - May 23, 2003
Something about that cane sugar Plants that Changed History - February 17, 2004
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Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
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National Geographic Adventure Classics:
Voyage of the Beaglet
National Geographic®
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Charles Darwin shook the foundations of existence to the very core when he published his revolutionary On the Origin of Species, a work that continues to spark controversy and debate today.
It was during the expedition described in Voyage of the Beagle that Darwin visited the Galapagos Archipelago, where he noticed the existence of several species of finches, all with vastly different beak shapes…an observation that would lead him to the conclusions about evolution he later elaborated on in On the Origin of Species.
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David Quammen, author of Song of the Dodo and an upcoming biography of Darwin, introduces this classic tale of high adventure.
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National Geographic Easter Island Poster
National Geographic®
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Seven stone giants or maois stand together on the sacred site of Ahu Akivi on Easter Island. There are several hundred statues positioned around the coastline of this small Pacific island; however, unlike the others, these seven have been brought inland. They stand facing west toward the ocean where the sun sets during the spring and autumn equinoxes.
No one knows why these statues are here, but some believe they represent the seven young warriors sent by the legendary Polynesian King Hotu Matu'a to explore the island. Others believe that the site of Ahu Akivi is a sanctuary and an observatory. 20'' x 16''.
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More Info: National Geographic Easter Island Poster
Photographer James Blair's Biography
James Blair joined the staff of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine in 1962 and has covered stories on a wide range of topics worldwide. Blair has special interest in the environment and has covered the disappearance of rain forests, environmental pollution, and World Heritage Sites.
In 1977, as a result of his coverage of South Africa, he was made a Poynter Fellow at Yale University. He also received the Overseas Press Club of America Award for Best Photographic Reporting From Abroad for this coverage and has received numerous awards for other coverage from the National Press Photographers Association.
His evocative work is held in a number of museum collections, including the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, the Carnegie Mellon Museum, and the Portland Museum of Art in Maine.
He was the first distinguished visiting professor of photojournalism at the University of Missouri's School of Journalism. Since retiring from the Society in 1994, Blair continues to photograph and teach. Blair is represented by the National Geographic Image Collection, which markets and distributes his photography worldwide.
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Andes
National Geographic®
Journey the entire 5,000-mile length of the Andes with an acclaimed Ecuadorian photographer and a great Peruvian novelist. Immerse yourself in the terrain and the culture and their experiences with both. Discover the mystique and the warmth that pervade the people who are shaped by this massive and powerful stretch of land.
A limited number of copies are available.
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90 photographs. 160 pages. Hardcover. 11" x 11". © 2001
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Bolivian Alpaca Sweater
National Geographic®
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In the Bolivian Andes, talented artisans spin alpaca fiber into a soft and durable yarn, and through their weaving, translate their traditional ancient patterns into contemporary style.
The bright earth tones and patterns of this particularly soft and breathable three-season sweater are adapted from a 3,000-year-old fabric.
Hand wash or dry clean only. Entirely handmade in Bolivia of pure alpaca wool.
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Men's sizes M (38-40), L (42-44), XL (46-48).
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NOVICA Products Made in The Andes.
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National Geographic Bolivian Leather Travel Briefcase
National Geographic®
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An essential piece of travel luggage, this beautiful artisan-crafted briefcase is made in Bolivia from the finest leather, which is known for its softness and durability.
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Features brass hardware, double-reinforced closures, multiple organizer pockets, a secure file pouch, and a detachable carrying strap.
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15''W x 11''H x 5''D
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NOVICA Products Made in The Andes.
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Wollemi Pine
National Geographic®
Exclusively from National Geographic, this survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years.
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Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area.
Click here to view canyon, trees and fossil record.
You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening or as a landscape tree in certain areas of the U.S.
Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Comes in a copper-colored container and will be approximately 10''H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research.
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National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic®
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You are invited to roam the world in the pages of National Geographic magazine. Explore the diversity of our planet's lands and inhabitants in compelling stories covering topics such as animals, nature, science, technology, culture, history, travel, adventure, exploration, and geography. The monthly National Geographic magazine is your key benefit of membership.
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