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BATS
AND THE BEACH GARDENIA |
The Marianas flying fox pollinates the flowers of the beach gardenia, eats the fruits and disperses the seeds. It also eats the plant's nutritious leaves.
The beach gardenia grows on the shorelines of Australia and some Pacific Islands. The plant has a shrubby aspect. It reaches about 10 metres (35 feet) in height.
Beach gardenias are colonizers of salty soils. They are fast growing, sturdy plants. They help to prevent erosion of shorelines and protect inland areas. Beach gardenias reduce the impact of storm waves and salt water spray upon inland settlements, crop fields and water supplies.
The most valuable trees on the islands of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu are the coconut, pandanus, breadfruit trees and the beach gardenia. Coconut flowers are pollinated by flying foxes. Pandanus and breadfruit seeds are dispersed by flying foxes.
Human beings, as well as the Marianas flying foxes, appreciate the nutritional content of beach gardenia leaves using both leaves and the soil from beneath the plants as mulch for pandanus and breadfruit tree cuttings.
Figs, a bat-planted fruit, are sun-dried on beds of beach gardenia leaves.
Another valuable island plant is the giant swamp taro. The plant is aptly named. It can achieve a height of 9 to 12 feet (3 to 4 metres). A single leaf blade can measure 3 to 6 feet in length (1 to 2 metres).
After 10 years of growth the plant's massive corm can weigh more than 220 pounds (100 kg) and the efforts of two or three men would be required to transport it from the swampy field where it grew. Younger, smaller corms (33 to 55 pounds, 15 to 25 kg) are preferable for boiling, steaming, roasting and frying.
Cultivation of the giant swamp taro on coral atolls is a precise agricultural art. The suckers or sprouts from a growing giant swamp taro must be placed in sweet water which floats on top of the salt water that impregnates an atoll's coral base. A pit is dug that reaches the sweet water lens. The pit is prepared for the young taro sprout with rich soil from beneath stands of beach gardenia plants.
Giant swamp taro
Babies are bathed in beach gardenia leaf water. A warm, moist towel turban that has been soaked in beach gardenia leaf water may relieve a headache. Beach gardenia leaves are also a useful substitute for toilet paper.
For a quick reversal of the effects of fish poisoning, eat beach gardenia fruit mixed with coconut.
Humans and bats are not alone in their appreciation for the nutritive value of beach gardenia leaves. The Hummingbird and Sweet Potato Hawkmoth larvae prosper on the leaves and can defoliate stands of beach gardenia plants.
Beach gardenia flowers are strongly and deliciously scented. The flowers are woven into fragrant garlands and used to scent oil. Beach gardenia flowers are used in medicines to treat female complaints and hemorrhoids.
Sources differ in their assessment of the durability of beach gardenia wood. Fujita's source says that the soft wood is used locally for paddle construction. In contrast, an article on the biodiversity and natural heritage of the Cook Islands describes beach gardenia wood as being so dense that nails resist being removed. Canoes, houses and furniture are made of beach gardenia wood.
The wood is valued as firewood. To start a fire by rubbing, you are advised to choose beach gardenia rubbing sticks.
References:
Fujita, M.S. 1991. Flying Fox (Chiroptera:Pteropodidae) Pollination, Seed Dispersal, and Economic Importance: A Tabular Summary of Current Knowledge, Resource Publication No. 2, Bat Conservation International
McCormack, Gerald (2006) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2006. 1. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga; http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org
Plants and Environments of the Marshall Islands; www.hawaii.edu/cpis/MI/MainPlants/html
Review of Uses and Status of Trees and Forests in Land-use Systems in Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu with Recommendations for Future Action Pacific Islands Regional Forestry Programme;www.spcforests.org
THE PLANT Family: Rubiaceae (Gardenias, coffee, quinine) Species: Guettarda speciosa Common names: Beach gardenia, zebra wood |
THE BAT Marianas flying fox (Pteropus marianas) |
Thank you to Dr. Merlin D. Tuttle, Founder and President, Bat Conservation International, Austin, Texas http://www.batcon.org for permission to use his photographs of the Marianas flying fox as illustrative guides.
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