This April, the Sacred garlic pear tree (Crateva religiosa) located at the Taiwan Power Company’s Department of Transmission and Substation Engineering in Taipei’s Da’an District became a viral sensation online. Located right next to Wenzhou Park (at No. 30, Lane 283, Section 3, Roosevelt Road, Gongguan), news reports and photos of the tree shared by visitors seemed to be everywhere. We, too, joined the crowds to admire this magnificent flowering tree, which stands over 15 meters tall—reaching the height of a five-story building.
Crateva religiosa, an ornamental plant native to tropical Asia and the South Pacific islands (including India, Southeast Asia, and Australia), blooms in April with large flowers. While its young fruits are edible, the plant is also used in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments, headaches, and stomachaches.
四月在臺北大安區台電輸變電工程處內 (公館羅斯福路三段 283 巷 30 號溫州公園旁) 的加羅林魚木在網上被炒的熱熱的，到處都看到新聞或人們展示的照片。我們也去湊熱鬧觀賞這棵超過 15 公尺、高達 5 層樓的開花喬木。
屬於觀賞植物的加羅林魚木，原產於熱帶亞洲及南太平洋島嶼，包括印度、東南亞及澳洲。4月時開花，花很大。幼果可食用。它在傳統醫學中可用於治療皮膚病、頭痛和胃痛。
Notes 筆記
- Key Characteristics
- Scientific Classification: Order-Brassicales; Family-Capparaceae; Genus-Crateva;
- Common Names: Sacred garlic pear, temple plant, spider tree.
- Appearance: A deciduous, thornless tree with grayish-white bark; bright green, three-leaflet leaves; blooms in April; large flowers that are white, then yellow, with long purple stamens; and large, pear-shaped, leathery fruits.
- Scent: Parts of the plant, including the flowers and fruit, have a garlic-like smell.
- Size: Can grow up to 15 meters (49 ft) tall.
- Habitat and Cultivation
- Native to: Tropical Asia and South Pacific islands, including India, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
- Habitat: Thrives in moist soils, along streams, and in sunny locations.
- Care: Prefers ample sunlight and well-draining soil; drought and frost tender.
- Uses
- Ornamental: Grown for its beautiful, fragrant flowers.
- Edible: Young fruits are edible.
- Medicinal: Used in traditional medicine for skin ailments, headaches, and stomachaches; bark contains compounds like lupeol.
- Other: The wood is light and soft in texture, and can be carved into the shape of a small fish to be used for catching squid.
- Flower Language: Sanctity and Prayer
- 主要特徵
- 科學分類：十字花目；山柑科(又稱白花菜科）；魚木屬；
- 俗名/別名：(英文翻譯:)聖蒜梨、廟宇樹、蜘蛛樹。(中文資料:)山橄欖、樹頭菜、四方燈盞。
- 外觀：落葉無刺喬木，樹皮呈灰白色; 葉片呈亮綠色，由三枚小葉組成；4 月開花，花朵碩大，初開時呈白色，隨後轉為黃色，並有細長的紫色雄蕊；7 月結漿果，果實碩大，呈梨形，質地如皮革般堅韌。
- 氣味：植株的花和果實部位帶有類似大蒜的氣味。
- 大小：可長至 15 公尺（49 英尺）高。
- 生境與栽培
- 原產地：熱帶亞洲及南太平洋島嶼，包括印度、東南亞及澳洲。
- 生境：喜生於濕潤土壤、溪流沿岸及向陽處。
- 植栽照護：喜充足陽光及排水良好的土壤；不耐乾旱，亦不耐霜凍。
- 用途
- 觀賞用：因其美麗芳香的花朵而種植。
- 可食用：幼果可食用。
- 藥用：在傳統醫學中用於治療皮膚病、頭痛和胃痛；其樹皮含有羽扇豆醇等化合物。
- 其他: 木材質地輕軟，可雕刻成小魚狀，用來釣烏賊。
- 花語: 神聖與祈願。
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Crateva religiosa
- 維基百科: 台電加羅林魚木