Plant of the week:

Written by Mala

Name in Tamizh : Kodukapulli

Botanical name: Pithocellobium Dulce 

Other commmon names:  

Manila tamarind, Madras thorn, 

Camachile and Guamúchil. It also has various other local names  as it is found in most parts of the world. 

The plant, is native to Mexico, CentralAmerica and north southern America. 

It belongs to the pea family and is classified as Fabaceae.

Left to nature it easily reaches a height of 10- 15 m. On younger trees the bark is smooth and pale whitish grey. On older trees, the bark turns rougher and fissured with ribs, which looks interesting on bonsai. 

The flowers are greenish white and fragrant. The trees start to fruit only after 4 to 8 yrs of age,during the dry season, with pods appearing 2 to 3 weeks after flowering. 

The fruits are edible and sweet

and the pods are shaped into spirals which is the origin of the name pithocellobium. Pitho meaning monkey and cellobium meaning earrings. Dulce means sweet. The tree is named after the shape of the fruit. 

The leaves are bipinate, it has very sharp thorns. There are some varieties that are thornless and they also release a sap which is irritating to the skin. 

All parts of the tree is useful as the fruit is consumed all over the world and the leaves and branches are used as foliage and fodder for the animals. It also has medicinal value. 

There is another variety with a variegated form of leaf with colours of pink, white and green but in my experience, this doesn’t fruit.

Also there is a small leaved variety. 

Pithocellobium lends itself to most bonsai shapes and can be converted very easily into formals , informals, cascades or literati. 

Most pods have around 10 shiny black seeds which germinate very easily, the plant can also can be propagated very easily by cutting and air layering. 

A very easy plant to grow, it grows in even drought filled conditions or in the swamps. It is also easy to make this plant into a bonsai in a short period of time.

STYLE – TWIN TRUNK/SOKAN

Written by Vijaya Chamundeswari

    Twin Trunk or Sokan is a very interesting and wholesome looking style. As the name suggests it has two trunks that grow from the same root system or mother root. This makes us look at them as siblings. The elder sibling is taller and fatter while the younger one which is relatively shorter and thinner. These two sibling trunks normally arise from the base or Nebari but there are slight exceptions where in the trunk grows up a few inches before giving rise to these two siblings. On a lighter note you could view it as late pregnancy.

   As they grow together they try not to disturb or nudge each other. So while pruning too we help them by removing branches that emerge between the two trunks. Lateral growth of branches happens naturally and is encouraged too, adding to the beauty of forming the base of a scalene triangle. As the shape moves upwards the branches reduce in size to form the apex. The two siblings might join together to form a single apex or padding on top or stay beside each other forming two parallel apex. Branches growing towards the front are avoided for they hinder the view of the two trunks. Gap between the two are kept minimal enough to allow independent growth. Plants like ficus that have a sticky sap, on the long run tend to fuse as they begin to thicken their trunks so not very ideal for twin trunk, but as an exception for any rule, can be monitored and avoided. Casuarina, Premna, Bria, Australian Raintree and the likes would fit into this style. Back branches can be encouraged as their foliage might act as a natural backdrop for the two good looking trunk siblings.

   Bonsai as an art is loved for its curves that add a lively flowing movement to the static form. In Sokan it is appreciated that the siblings follow the same movement making it easier for the branches to create a balanced ramification with enough space for the birds to flit around as we say in Bonsai. It is nice to imagine an emotional bond between these two trunks when we see the taller sibling bending over the younger one very caringly. No two siblings always follow the same path. One might want to be an informal upright while the other a formal one. One might choose to be a windswept style while the other a literati. With a roll of wire in hand we can guide them into whatever style they are suited for while they stay together in Sokan. In the world of creativity and exposure anything is acceptable. We give them all an artistic license to be different. Rules need to be strictly followed when we sit for exams or competition.

   As in any style constant monitoring is needed lest the two stray from their focus or fall prey to external dangers of pests and weather. Reverse tapering is to be avoided as possibilities are more when we have two trunks emerging from a single base or trunk. That’s why we always keep one smaller than the other. Keeping the roots exposed at the surface close to the trunk creates a good tapering of the trunk base. 

   Choosing a pot when the bonsai is ready – a rectangle or oval is best suited depending on the specimen in hand. A sturdy thick masculine looking one goes into the rectangular while the dainty looking curvaceous ones go into the oval. Again, break the rules and blame creativity for it is imperfections that make an artist bloom.