Park Flora

Taiwan Nato Tree

The Taiwan nato tree is native to Taiwan it is a large evergreen palaquium tree, growing up to 20 meters. The tree carries characteristics of being strong, salt tolerant, resists droughts, wind, and humidity; it is a tree that adapts perfectly to the climate in Taiwan. It’s easy to plant and easier to transplant, which is why many seaside industrial areas have planted the beautiful and unique tree. The tree grows tall and cleanly, making it perfect for enjoyment The branches extend diagonally to form layers; it’s truly a highly valuable native species.

Water Willow

The water willow is a common tree in Taiwan that can be used to guard against winds; they sprout each spring, bringing also flowers and fruit. When their fruit ripen, they’re known as willow catkins and when they float through the air in April and May (national calendar), that’s when its seeds have ripened. The flying seeds are led by the wind, growing wherever they land. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, when poet Xie Daoyun depicted a scene of snow, a boy said: “it’s like throwing salt into the air”; Xie Daoyun replied: “better said as willow catkins, dancing with the wind”. These words convinced everyone present and became a dialogue that’s been passed down a millennia.

Chinese hackberry

Its seeds can be used as bullets for traditional children’s toy guns while their timber is tough and hard. It is a tree common to Taiwan, defoliating in the fall and winter while sprouting and flowering in the spring. Fossils of Chinese hackberry seeds have been found in old Beijing ruins, proving that mankind had started using Chinese hackberry trees more than 50,000 years ago. The bark is scaly and the tree can grow up to 20 meters.

Data Source: Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica http://kplant.biodiv.tw/index.htm