Family: Cycad

Genus: Cycas

Species: revolute

Common names: King sago palm, sago palm

General Description: Sago palm is one of the most available and economical sources of food starch in the world. An international conference recently suggested the possibility of the Sago as an option for worldwide consumption as food supplies dwindle. It is very slow growing; the young plant is two to three feet tall and, outside of its native home may be found in the ground or in a pot on a patio. Since it needs sun, it does not grow well away from a window inside a building. In the tropics, the Sago Palm is found in lowland forests and freshwater swamps. It is versatile and can grow in a variety of soils.

Due to Sago palm's popularity in the past half-century, this feather leaf palm is found from coast lines to landscapes around the world. It is over 300 years old and can grow to 10-12 feet tall with dignified umbrella crowns.

Location: Sago palm is native to the tropics from Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean, to Japan.

Uses: Sago is a starch ground into a powder. The trunk is split open after the tree is cut; the pith is crushed and kneaded, which releases starch. The material is then washed and strained to extract the starch, which is put into a container for local use or export. The Sago Palm is a major staple food for New Guinea and the Moluccas. It is often cooked and pressed into a pancake and served with fish. Sago looks like tapioca; each resembles pearly grains of starch, but they come from different sources. Tapioca is made from the root of the cassava plant, and Sago starch comes from the palm.

Sago Palms have erect, sturdy trunks that grow wider as the plant matures. The diameter can be as great as two feet, and sometimes wider. Some very old Sagos display twenty feet of trunk.
Sagos typically grow cones during spring or summer. Usually a new set of leaves appears at the same time. Seeds develop slowly as well. Suckers often grow from the base, with several stems clumping together after some time.

Family: Elaeocarpaceae

Genus: Elaeocarpus

Species: carolinensis

Common names: sadak

General Description: Sadak (Elaeocarpus carolinensis) is a canopy tree that grows to 50 feet high in the rainforest and is considered critical for rainforest survival. The leaves are alternately arranged on the stem and are oblong-shaped, each four to six inches long and one to two inches wide. The leaves are thick and serrated on the edges. As the end of the growing season approaches, they turn red before falling.

Flowers of the Sadak tree emerge in clusters with five to ten flowers per cluster. They are small and the calyx and petals are equal in length; the petals are notched on the tip. The bright blue fruit is round and as it matures, the skin begins to wrinkle.

The Sadak tree is indigenous to the Federated States of Micronesia on the Caroline and Palau Islands. This species grows in the lowland-upland wet forests and tropical cloud forests, at elevations ranging from sea-level to 1400 feet above the sea. This species is also found in Taiwan.

The genus Elaeocarpus contains 250 species found in a number of continents and countries, including Asia and Australia; and island countries of Madagascar, Mauritius, Melesia, New Zealand, the Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific. Two species of this genus are found in Hawaii, and one (Elaeocarpus bifidus) grows both on Kauai and Oahu.

On the Caroline and Palau Islands, the Sadak tree is now surrounded by agriculture/forestry industry, thus becoming one of the 'remnant' trees in the rainforest.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Family: Lauraceae

Genus: Aniba

Species: canelilla, rosaeodora

Common names: Casca preciosa, Rosewood, Pau-rosa, Legno di rose, Brazilian rosewood

General Description: Rosewood is known for the value of the wood, rather than for herbal consumption, although there has been some historical documentation of its use as a healthcare supplement. It is considered to be the most important wood to acoustic guitar and other musical instrument building today. Brazilian Rosewood is only able to reach its most brilliant colors when the trees are allowed to grow to old ages. Its trunk grows in spirals, creating a beautiful grain in harvested wood.

As with most kinds of rosewood, this timber is very hard and dense. It is used for flooring and for building furniture, in addition to musical instruments. It is also used for turnery, such as wooden chess sets, bowls, platters and candlesticks.

This valuable tree is known by numerous names, including Bahia Rosewood, Brazilian Rosewood, Rio Rosewood, Jacarandá De Brasil, Pianowood, Caviuna, and Obuina (Dalbergia nigra). The species is a legume, from the Leguminosa family.

Location: Rosewood is found in Brazil, from the eastern forests of the Baja (Bahai) to Rio de Janerio. It is seriously threatened by habitat loss, since most of its habitat has been converted to farmland. Due to its endangered status, it is CITES-listed, and illegal to trade. However, Honduras rosewood, which is also a rare species, is considered a substitute for Brazilian rosewood; Honduras rosewood is highly desired for making marimbas and xylophones.

Uses: Rosewood essential oil is from Aniba rosaeodora, a tree from the Amazon rainforests. The oil obtained from the wood and leaves is used in fragrances and soaps. Because Rosewood is an oily wood with open grain, its oil is wonderful for use in any skin care formulations as it rejuvenates and regenerates skin cells.

Rosewood is an evergreen tree now controlled as an endangered species by the Government of Brazil. In 1975, CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, came into existence and made it illegal to cut down Brazilian rosewood trees or export any new lumber. Wood harvested before June 11, 1992 is illegal to export; however a guitar with Brazilian rosewood parts can still be sold abroad if the shipment is accompanied by documentation testifying to its provenance.

Finally, Brazilian law makes illegal the harvesting of living Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) trees. Its salvation may well be the fact that the Brazilian government requires a new Rosewood tree be planted for every one cut down.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Family: Apocynaceae

Genus: Aspidosperma

Species: excelsum

Common names: avore de carapana, arvore dos mosquitos, canalete, carapanauba, jaroeroe, musara, paddle tree, paddlewood

General Description: Remo caspi is a large canopy tree with extensive reinforcement to support its height. Some of its root system is above ground and provides immense support for this huge tree. Remo caspi grows to the top of the Amazon Rainforest, up to 100 feet. Small white flowers emerge on this tree and a fruit capsule also grows from its branches. "Remo caspi" is Spanish for 'paddle' wood and makes reference to its large roots.

Uses: The wood from the roots is used to make canoe paddles because it is both light weight and durable. In traditional tribal and herbal medicine, Remo caspi has been used for a variety of ailments. In Brazil, it is an agent used for intestinal distress, both gas and as an aid for digestion; thus it is a carminative. Brazilians also use this herb for bronchitis, inflammation, fever, diabetes, cancer and malaria. Some reports also suggest Remo caspi has antioxidant properties. It has been used widely in the Amazon to treat malaria, sexual problems, coughs and bronchitis. Other South American countries use the bark of this tree for a variety of ailments: some Indian people chew on the bark to relieve toothaches; others use it to prevent cavities, treat malaria and hepatitis. In Peruvian herbal medicine, the root bark is used as an aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antibiotic, and wound-healer; it is also used in Peru to treat malaria, high blood pressure and bronchitis.

Family:Rubiaceae

Genus: Cinchona

Species:officinalis, ledgeriana, succirubra, calisaya

Common names: quinine bark, cinchona, Jesuit's bark

General Description: The members of this genus contains about forty species of trees that all grow 15-20 m in height and produce white, pink, or yellow flowers. Quinine bark, also known as Cinchona, is one of the most popular and well-known plants of the rainforest.

Location: They are cultivated in many tropical areas such as India and Java, but are native to the Andes Mountains.

Uses: The medicinally active bark is stripped from the tree, dried and powdered, and generally used to treat malaria symptoms. Today, it is used infrequently due to the threat of death if consumed in large quantities. However, Quinine was used sporadically through the first half of the 18th century for cardiac problems and arrhythmia and it became a standard of cardiac therapy in the second half of the 19th century. Another alkaloid chemical called quinidine was discovered to be responsible for this beneficial cardiac effect. Quinidine, a compound produced from quinine, is still used in cardiology today, sold as a prescription drug for arrhythmia. The sales demand for this drug still generates the need for harvesting natural quinine bark today because scientists have been unsuccessful in synthesizing this chemical without utilizing the natural quinine found in cinchona bark.

In addition to it use for malaria and heart arrhythmias, quinine bark is also used to calm nerves, stimulate digestion, as an anti-parasite and anti-bacterial agent, and fever reducer.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Family: Costaceae

Genus: Costus

Species: Comosus

General Description: Red Flower Ginger's stalk grows in spirals that resemble bamboo. The canes are long and this plant like to grow in clumps. It has broad light green leaves that appear to hover over other smaller plants.

The flower emerges from the top of the cane. The powerful beauty of this plant is its bright red conical shaped flower that has the appearance of beeswax. This bloom shows up in spring and can remain on the plant for nine months. After each cone develops, several bright yellow flowers peek out from under the cone.

Location: Red Flower Ginger finds its home in the rainforests of Costa Rica, and now is a favorite patio or potted plant throughout the modern world.

Uses: Red Flower Ginger is a rainforest plant that has many uses in tribal and herbal medicine, both historically and today. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used as a general tonic and systemic stimulant; in particular it is prescribed for the treatment of abdominal gas and pain, pain from liver disease and jaundice, gall bladder pain, constipation, and asthma. It also stimulates the appetite has antiseptic properties.

The value of this plant is also recognized in South East Asia and Tibet. Tribal Suriname herbalists extract a substance from the stem and use it to treat gonorrhea, the common cold and eye ailments.

In centuries old Tibetan medicine, the root is used to treat abdominal gas, irregular menses, asthma and other pulmonary disorders, and some kinds of muscle diseases. The oil of Red Flower Ginger is used to treat rheumatism. Some believe the essential oil slows the process of hair turning gray.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Family: Rosaceae

Genus: Quillaja

Species: saponaria

Common Names: Quillaia, kilaya, quillaja, soapbark tree,
murillo bark, Panama wood

General Description: Quillaja is a large evergreen South American shrub. It is native to Chile and Peru, and is now grown in India and California. Its leaves are thick and shiny and the tree grows to heights of 60 feet and canopy spread of 22 feet.

Uses: Quillaja is a tool of artists; they use this herb to wash cloth, particularly silk, that most soap and detergents would damage. It is a natural cleanser that is so gentle it prevents stripping cloth and hair of natural oils and ingredients that protect.

Quillaja is an extract from the bark of the Quillaja tree. Its name comes from the Chilean word for soap. In tribal life and rituals, the bark extract is used for washing clothes, removing grease and spots from fabrics; now its use has extended to cleaning more delicate fabrics, such as ribbons, under garments and wool.

This tree is also known as 'soap bark tree'. The inner bark of the Quillaja tree has been known for centuries as an agent for washing clothes and bathing. It may be used topically on the skin as well. Quillaja bark extract has properties that break down excess scalp oil and may be used as a shampoo. It is a natural herb that soothes and may relieve itching and protect skin from dryness and cracking, as well as relieve insect bites.

Quillaja is cultivated in Chile in soil that may erode easily, and on steep slopes also to protect from erosion.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Family: Arecaceae or Palmae

Genus: Dictyosperma

Species: albumarmata

Common names: Hurricane palm, princess palm

General Description: The Princess Palm grows to over 30 feet and is very attractive. Its feathery palm leaves feature a white crown shaft. The species is variable and has several different colorful varieties.

This regal and elegant tree is also known as the Hurricane Palm. That name is very apt because the tree is able to withstand high winds. The Princess/Hurricane Palm is able to grow in tropical and subtropical landscapes, as long as there is no danger of frost.

The Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean lay claim to this hallmark palm that is stately and grand, a true tropical beauty. The Princess Palm is considered an essential component of a tropical or subtropical landscape by many garden designers.

Location: The Princess Palm Tree is indigenous to the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Reunion, Rodrigues, and Round Island) originally growing in forests on the Islands. Three species are attributed to these Islands: album, aureum and conjugatum.

Uses: The Princess Palm is almost extinct in these regions because of the high demand for the palm heart (Hearts of Palm) used widely in salads and fresh dishes. Also contributing to extinction of this tree is the replacement of forests with agriculture and grazing since the 17th century when humans began occupying the Islands. As a result, this beautiful tree is considered an endangered species.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Genus: Phyllanthus

Species: niruri, amarus

Common Names: Chanca piedra, quebra pedra, stone-breaker, arranca-pedras, punarnava, amli, bhonya, bhoomi amalaki, bhui-amla

General Description: Related to the spurge family, it belongs to the leaf flower genus of The Phyllanthaceae family. It grows 15 to 25 inches tall, has smooth light green bark and pale green flowers. Its fruit is a small smooth capsule that holds seeds.

Location: Quebra Pedra is found in most coastal areas throughout Central and South America.

Uses: Quebra Pedra is a rainforest herb used in tribal medicine to treat obstructions of all kinds; its properties helps eliminate mucous throughout the human body. This annual is known by several common names: stone-breaker, chanca piedra and quebra pedra; other languages also assign names to this plant.
Quebra Pedra has been used in herbal medicine to treat kidney stones and hard mineral salts that develop in the urinary tract. Some clinical studies support the use of this plant for treating both stones in the urinary tract as well as some viruses. More research is needed.

Quebra Pedra has been used in the Amazon rainforests for a variety of presumably unrelated ailments. It has been used historically as a diuretic. Some studies reported from different sources in the late 1980s claim its ability to inactivate the hepatitis B virus. "In one study with 88 patients who had been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, those who took Quebra Pedra in powder form showed a substantial increase in appearance of the antibody to the hepatitis virus." (Dr. Donna Schwontkowski)
This Amazon superfood may be a healthy preventative herb. Many herbalists drink a cup of Quebra Pedra tea daily to prevent disease. Research on Quebra Pedra continues and, hopefully, additional information will become available that will shed light on its value for humankind.

The Hawksbill Turtle (eretmochelys imbricata) typically occurs in tidal and sub-tidal coral and rocky reef habitats throughout tropical and sub-tropical waters.

Sponges make up a major part of the diet of Hawksbills, although they also feed on seagrasses, algae, soft corals and shellfish.

The Hawksbill turtle has a distinctive parrot-like beak. Other characteristics include:

• 4 pairs or more of large scales on either side (coastal scales)

• Thick overlapping carapace (protective, shell-like covering on the back of the turtle) scales

• Carapace low domed with upturned edges

• Adult carapace approx. 0.8m

• Colour olive grey

In Australia the main feeding area extends along the East Coast, including the Great Barrier Reef. Other feeding areas include Torres Strait and the archipelagos of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, as far south as Coral Bay and Shark Bay.

In Western Australia, Hawksbills generally have smaller annual nesting populations of tens to hundreds of turtles. However, they have an extended nesting period and may nest at any time of the year. Their peak nesting period is between October and February. They often share the nesting beaches mid-season with other species of turtles, but commence breeding much earlier.

Confirmed northern Gascoyne region nesting locations include Ningaloo beaches from the Coral Bay area north to the Muiron Islands. There are no records of Hawksbills nesting at more southerly locations.

As at December 2005, a total of about 2,500 nesting females had been tagged and released for population studies.

There is a widespread belief that the Hawksbill can be poisonous. Australian Aboriginal people believe this, and usually harvest only the eggs at coastal sites. Some minor illegal trade in Hawksbill turtle shells has been detected in recent times but there is now no evidence of organised or substantial trade within Australia. Historic external trade did occur.

This page not only has a lot of information about marine turtles, but have a look at my other related topics including:

• Life-cycle of Marine Turtles

• Green Turtles

• Loggerhead Turtles

• Marine Turtles at Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef