Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Beech tree: Bulgarian team's favorite tree

The beech tree
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Rowan tree: Polish team's favorite tree

The rowan tree can be seen in almost whole Europe except the most south regions and also in Minor Asia, Krym and Kaukaz.
In Poland rowan tree can be found in forests, by the roads and in the open space. It is often grown in parks because of decorative look.
Rowan tree can grow up to 15 meters height. It grows fast and lives up to 60 years.
The leaves are dark green on top and grayish at the other side. When it is in bloom flowers are white or cream. The fruit can be food for birds and foxes.

The oldest rowan tree can be admired in Lubiń near Świnoujście. It has 135 years and it is over 15 meters height.


By Emilia, Agata, Katarzyna

Monday, January 12, 2009

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Rowan tree in Tradition


We will described one of the most popular Polish trees, rowan. A rowan is beautiful, especially in autumn. This tree grows everywhere. The name "rowan" is derived from the Old Norse name for the tree, raun or rogn.
Rowan tree have been used in mythology, history, art, music, literature, poetry, medicine and food but we will talk about triadition.
The holiday of the Rowan is a perfect chance for getting to know the culture and the tradition of local delicacies of Poland.
On the fair it will be possible to purchase souvenirs made by local craftsmen and folk authors. Juices, fresh fruits, jam, the plum jam in it preserves of the rowanberry will also be available on stalls, similarly to baking and different country, culinary delicacies. During the party disappearing professions will be presented: the blacksmith, the carpenter, the potter. The music, dances and folk songs of appearing natives of Cracow during the holiday will summon the atmosphere of former banquet, taking place in inns and inns meetings. This holiday is on 7th September.
The European rowan (S. aucuparia) has a long tradition in European mythology and folklore. It was thought to be a magical tree and protection against malevolent beings. The density of the rowan wood makes it very usable for walking sticks and magician's staves. This is why druid staffs, for example, have traditionally been made out of rowan wood, and its branches were often used in dowsing rods and magic wands.
Rowan was carried on vessels to avoid storms, kept in houses to guard against lightning, and even planted on graves to keep the deceased from haunting. It was also used to protect one from witches . Often birds' droppings contain rowan seeds, and if such droppings land in a fork or whole, where old leaves have accumulated on a larger tree, such as an oak or a maple, they may result in a rowan growing as an epiphyte on the larger tree. Such a rowan is called a "flying rowan" and was thought of as especially potent against witches and their magic, and as a counter-charm against sorcery. Rowan's alleged protection against enchantment made it perfect to be used in making rune staves for metal divining, and to protect cattle from harm by attaching sprigs to their sheds. Leaves and berries were added to divination incense for better scrying.
In Finland and Sweden, the number of berries on the trees was used as a predictor of the snow cover during winter. This is now considered mere superstition , as fruit production is related to weather conditions the previous summer, with warm, dry summers increasing the amount of stored sugars available for flower and fruit production; it has no predictive relationship to the weather of the next winter. Contrary to the above, in Maalahti, Finland the opposite was thought. If there rowan flowers were plentiful then the rye harvest would also be plentiful. Similarly, if the rowan flowered twice in a year there would be many potatoes and many weddings that autumn. And in Sipoo people are noted as having said that winter began first when the waxwings (bird) had eaten the last of the rowan berries (plant).
In Sweden it was also thought that if the rowan trees grew pale and lost color, the fall and winter would bring much illness.
Bibliography :
http://www.wikipedia.org

By the Polish team

Plane tree and Greek History

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Rowan tree and its medicinal use

People have known the medicinal uses of the rowan tree for many years. It can cure a lot of different diseases.
If you suffer from sore throats, inflamed tonsils and hoarseness, you can drink fresh rowan berry juice, which is full of vitamins A and C.
You can also prepare rowan berry jam which is a good remedy for diarrhea. It is possible to use an infusion of the berries, if you suffer from hemorrhoids.
Not only the fruit of the tree is a medicine but also the bark. The bark can also be used as an astringent for loose bowels.
If you have problems with eyes which are irritations, rowan can also help.
It is possible to use it also for more serious diseases such as hurt problems and neuralgia.

Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan

By Emilia, Agata and Katarzyna

Plane tree and its medicinal use

(Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally).

Plane tree’s leaves are astringent and vulnerary.
The fresh leaves are bruised and applied to the eyes in the treatment of ophthalmia.
A decoction made from the leaves is used to treat dysentery. Α cream made from the leaves is used to heal wounds and chilblains.
The leaves are harvested in the spring and summer and can be dried for later use.
Plane tree’s bark is boiled in vinegar and then used in the treatment of:
diarrhea
dysentery
hernias and
toothache!

By Marianna
For the Greek team

Monday, January 5, 2009

Plane tree: Greek team's favorite tree

Plane tree
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Lime tree and its Medicinal use

Lime tree or Tilia (Lipa)
The flowers are used for herbal tea, and this infusion is particularly popular in Europe.
Lime flower tea has a pleasing taste, due to the aromatic volatile oil found in the flowers.
Lime flowers are used in colds, cough, fever, infections, inflammation, high blood pressure, headache (particularly migraine), as a diuretic (increases urine production), antispasmodic (reduces smooth muscle spasm along the digestive tract), and sedative.
The flowers were added to baths to quell hysteria, and steeped as a tea to relieve anxiety-related indigestion, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting. The leaves are used to promote sweating to reduce fevers.
The flowers, leaves, wood, and charcoal (obtained from the wood) are used for medicinal purposes.
Active ingredients in the lime flowers include falconoid (which act as antioxidants), volatile oils, and mucilaginous constituents (which soothe and reduce inflammation).
The plant also contains tannins that can act as an astringent.
By the Czech team

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Oak tree and its symbols


In the folk tradition the oak is often linked to justice.
Did you know that in France King Louis IX who was nicknamed Saint Louis gave justice under an oak? In Britain, Robin Hood had its headquarters in an Oak in the Forest Sherwood near Nottingham.
In many countries the oak also symbolizes sustainability. In French folklore a couple who have been married for 80 years exchange presents made of oak.
Romans, Celts and Germans praised this sacred tree as a vivid symbol of values such as virility, strength, endurance and longevity.
Several countries use the oak branch as a symbol of stability for their political systems.For example, pfennigs were illustrated by an oak branch and so are German euro cents. In France you can see a crown of olive and oak on coins .
The oak leaf in France also adorns the cap of general officers and some decorations such as the Legion of Honor and the Medal of the National Order of Merit.


By Mégane, Laura and Mélaine
For the French team

Saturday, January 3, 2009

More about Lime tree

Lime Tree
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Friday, January 2, 2009

Olive tree: Greek national tree


By Orestis for the Greek team

Cyprus