Decay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even today, more than a hundred years after the construction of the dam, dead trees remain as scrawny poles in the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cherry species are described in depth on the page Plants: Plants in folklore and poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

This reserve was renamed in 1954 as Ramganga National Park, which one year later was again renamed as Corbett National Park, in honour of the well-known author, hunter, and naturalist Jim Corbett (1875-1955). – Incidentally, some of Corbett’s often hair-raising adventures are related several other places on this website, including the pages Quotes on Nature, and Animals – Mammals: The spotted killer.

Despite being designated as a national park, part of the area was nevertheless inundated, when the Ramganga Dam, also known as the Kalagarh Dam, was constructed on the borders of the park. This dam, which constitutes part of a huge irrigation and hydroelectric project, was completed in 1974.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A large tree, to 45 m tall, with scaly, grey or blackish-brown bark, alternating with pale yellowish-brown, corky bark. The linear and flat needles are olive-green, to 2 cm long, arranged spirally, grooved on the upperside, with two white stomatic bands below. Male cones are single or in groups up to 5, purple, to 8 mm long. The small, pendulous female cones are reddish-brown, ovoid, to 2 cm long and 1 cm wide.

Taiwan is home to a variety of Chinese hemlock, formosana, which is quite common in mixed broad-leaved forests in montane areas of the island, at altitudes between 1,700 and 3,500 m. Some authorities question the validity of this variety, claiming that it is identical with the type.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This bird has an extremely wide, but rather patchy, distribution, found all over Europe and most of Asia, in Australia and New Zealand, and in north-eastern North America and Greenland. In the 1800s, it was persecuted all over Europe, partly because it was competing with fishermen, partly because its caustic guano killed the trees, in which it was breeding.

A large number of cormorant species are presented on the page Fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both species are described on the page Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In his book My First Summer in the Sierra, from 1911, Scottish-American writer and environmentalist John Muir (1838-1914) writes the following about giant sequoia: “I found a black, charred stump about thirty feet in diameter and eighty or ninety feet high – a venerable, impressive old monument of a tree that in its prime may have been the monarch of the grove.”

Other pictures, depicting these remarkable trees, may be seen on the pages Plants: Ancient and huge trees, and Plants: Plants of Sierra Nevada.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is from the Greek khelidonios (‘swallow-like’), from khelidon (‘swallow’), referring to the elegant flying style of Chlidonias terns. The specific name, meaning ‘hybrid’ in Latin, was applied by Prussian naturalist Peter Simon Pallas (1741-1811), who presumed that the bird he shot was a hybrid between white-winged tern (Chlidonias leucoptera) and common tern (Sterna hirundo). (Source: Jobling, J.A. 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. Christopher Helm, London)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But then – at closer quarters I noticed a narrow strip of bark on the side of the trunk, which pointed away from the direction of the prevailing wind. This strip of bark was leading up to one or two branches, densely covered in green needles, and from the tip of these branches, small cones were hanging down, their scales equipped with bristle-like appendages.

These peculiar trees were Great Basin bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva), which is restricted to high-altitude areas in eastern California, Nevada, and Utah. Apart from certain clones, including a creosote (Larrea tridentata) in the Mohave Desert, whose age is estimated at c. 9,400 years, this pine is the oldest living organism on Earth, a few of them being around 5,000 years old.

Other pictures, depicting these remarkable trees, are shown on the pages Plants: Ancient and huge trees, and Plants: Plants of Sierra Nevada.

 

 

 

 

 

In later years, populations of this ash species have been much reduced by ash dieback, a disease caused by a fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, previously called Chalara fraxinea. Most trees that contract this disease die after a few years. However, research has shown that some trees may have resistance to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This species is restricted to the highest mountain tops of Taiwan, at elevations between 2,400 and 3,800 m. It is declining, as many populations have become fragmented, fire being the main threat.

The specific name honours Japanese botanist Takiya Kawakami (1871-1915), who worked as a botanist for the Japanese government in Taiwan from 1901. He collected numerous plants there, and several species are named after him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sad fate of the kauri tree is described on the page Plants: Ancient and huge trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This tree, which can grow to 20 m tall, usually occurs at altitudes between 1,200 and 2,300 m. It is very common, often forming open woodlands, and often mixed with junipers (Juniperus). Previously, the edible nuts were an important source of food for indigenous peoples, and they are still widely harvested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When a tomb is no longer used, relatives often smash the grave and split the tombstone. The pictures below show two abandoned graves near the city of Taichung. Fire from burning grass on nearby graves has spread to the grave in the lower picture.

Other aspects of Daoism are described on the page Religion: Daoism in Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic and common names are derived from the Greek poly (‘many’) and pous (‘foot’), in allusion to its many equal lobes on the leaf. In former times, polypody was utilized in cooking, and in traditional medicine as a purgative and vermifuge. This species has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is often regarded as an invasive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This species is described in depth on the page Plants: Plants in folklore and poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pictures, depicting this species, and many other cacti, may be studied on the page Plants: Cacti.

 

 

 

 

 

The term Hittite is modern, taken from the Bible, and has nothing to do with this people. They called themselves the ‘People of the Land of Hatti’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, this area bears the marks of decay and indifference, in equal measures. Rubble, wires, iron pipes, oil drums, scrapped trucks, workmen’s huts, and a lot of other rubbish is ubiquitous, and nobody cares to clean up the mess. During the Soviet Era, you just did what you were told, which does not exactly encourage personal initiative. Today, when you are not told to do anything, it seems that nobody wants to take the trouble to clear the mess, and thus beautify the area.

Elsewhere in Chukotka, a lively town existed on the sandspit Kosa Nikolaya, clustered around a harbour, from where supplies were brought to a huge gold diggers’ camp in the nearby Zolotoi Khrebet (’Golden Ridge’) Mountains. Today, the buildings on the sandspit are empty and deserted, some of the huge oil tanks are slanting a bit, while rusted machines, trucks, wires, and a collection of other items, are scattered all over the landscape.

Our adventures in Chukotka are related on the page Travel episodes – Siberia 2011: Caterpillar trip in Chukotka.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 19th century, when European explorers visited the ruins, most of them were overgrown by rainforest. Since then, most of the vegetation has been removed, and many of the ruins have been restored. In many places, however, various signs of decay are still seen, as shown in pictures below.

The Khmer culture is described in depth on the page Religion: Hinduism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This hare is native to the major part of Europe and the Middle East, and thence eastwards across the Asian steppes to Mongolia. It has also been introduced elsewhere, including Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and southern South America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A home remedy, if you are stung by a nettle, is to apply the juice of dock to the affected area, which will afford instant relief. An old rhyme says:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jiancing Historic Trail was established along remains of this old railroad track, where, besides the tracks themselves, one may see skids, switches, trolley axles, and deserted workers’ dwellings.

The name jiancing means ‘seeing the sun’, possibly given due to the fact that this area is often enveloped in fog, and finally seeing the sun breaking through the fog might be relieving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name is derived from karambal, the word for this tree in Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language, spoken by Marathi people in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beech nuts and acorns were among the primary foods of the extinct passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius). This bird was once enormously abundant in eastern North America, counting maybe as many as 3 to 5 billion. It was hunted on a large scale in the 1800s, its meat sold at a very low price. This hunting, combined with large-scale logging of beech and oak forests, were the main factors that caused the passenger pigeon to go extinct in the wild around 1901.

 

 

 

 

 

Budai is usually regarded as an incarnation of Maitreya, the ‘Future Buddha’, who, it is said, will return to Earth in due time to save humanity. The word budai means ‘a sack made of cloth’. This name has been applied to him, as he is usually seen carrying a sack over his shoulder. When asked why he is carrying this sack, he will just throw it to the ground, smiling, indicating that you should let go of all desires – the final goal of all Buddhists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teide bugloss (E. wildprettii) only grows at high altitudes on the islands Tenerife and La Palma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aspects of Namibian landscape and nature are presented on the page Countries and places: Namibia – a desert country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, the remaining junk cars were left at the roadside, and over the years the site fell into decay. Today, a pine forest has sprung up around the former junk yard, and here you may experience the strange sight of about 150 rusted car wrecks, mainly from the 1940s and 1950s, slowly deteriorating and disappearing into the mossy and boggy forest floor.

Besides cars you may also see a bus, bicycles, mopeds, and iron stoves. Pine trees and other plants are growing up through the centre of some of the discarded car wheels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The name four o’clock family stems from another member of the family, the Marvel-of-Peru (Mirabilis jalapa), whose flowers do not open until late in the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

Following negotiations with the Prince of Thanjavur, Giedde obtained permission to build a trading station, which was called Trankebar (in English Tranquebar) – a corruption of the local Tamil name of the place, Tarangambadi, which means ‘singing waves’. In 1660, a fort was completed, named Dansborg (’Danish Castle’). Behind this fort, a town sprang up, fortified with moats and walls, through which a number of gates gave access to the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is the classical Latin name of the common, or English, ivy (Hedera helix), which is distributed in most of Europe and western Asia. The specific name is Greek, meaning ‘twisted’ or ‘spiral’, which of course refers to its climbing habit. The common name is derived from Old English ifig, ultimately from the German Efeu, which is of unknown origin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sad fate of elephants is described on the page Animals – Mammals: Rise and fall of the mighty elephants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from the Greek artos (‘bread’) and karpos (‘fruit’), a name given by Scottish-German botanist Johann Reinhold Forster (1729-1798) and his son Johann Georg Forster (1754-1794), who participated as botanists during the second voyage of James Cook (1728-1779), which took place 1772-1775.

Some species are widely cultivated, especially breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) and jackfruit (A. heterophyllus). The latter is described on the pages Travel episodes – Sri Lanka 1976: Among alcohol brewers, and Nature: Nature’s patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calathea species are distributed in Tropical America, from Mexico southwards to Brazil and Peru. In Spanish, one species, Calathea lutea, is known as bijagua. It is so common in Costa Rica, that it has given name to the town of Bijagua de Upala in the northern part of the country. It is distributed from Mexico southwards to Brazil and Peru, mainly in open coastal areas.

Its leaves are very tough and durable when dry, utilized for thatching, to make waterproof baskets, and to wrap items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the Japanese were expelled from Taiwan in 1945, the area was first placed under contract with the Taiwan Paper Company, after which the government reclaimed operation of the area, selling first-grade wood to bidders, and the second-grade wood to paper mills.

In 1972, the Forestry Bureau assumed operations over the area. Logging was banned, and a park and a cultural area was established. (Source: guidetotaipei.com/visit/hualien-lintienshan-forestry-cultural-area)