Admire the heritage tree over 500 years old, flowers have strange colors

(Dan Tri) - The kapok tree in Thach Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district, is over 500 years old and has just been recognized as the first heritage tree of Quang Binh province. This kapok tree has orange-yellow flowers and is very rare.

This orange-flowered cotton tree is located in the white-cheeked langur community conservation area, in Thiet Son village 3, Thach Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district, Quang Binh province. According to local elders, this cotton tree is over 500 years old, and is considered by the people to be a sacred, priceless treasure, associated with many historical ups and downs of Tuyen Hoa land.

During the anti-French period, at the foot of the kapok tree, villagers built a lime kiln to provide building materials for communal houses, pagodas, and shrines for the entire region. Although the homeland was constantly plowed by bombs, shells, and incessant storms that caused many ancient trees to fall, the kapok tree remained intact, green, and stood proudly between heaven and earth.

The ancient kapok tree in Thiet Son village has a base circumference of 18m, a trunk circumference of 14m, is about 30m high, and has a canopy that extends about 20m. The base of the tree is so large that 10 people cannot hug it, and has many roots clinging around it. The tree has many large branches, spreading shade over an area, each branch has a very unique winding shape in the air.

It is worth noting that the kapok tree usually has two colors of red and white flowers, but the kapok tree in Thach Hoa has orange-yellow flowers, which are very rare in other places. Next to the kapok tree is a shrine, which the locals call the forest god shrine. For the people in Thach Hoa, the kapok tree is not only a symbol of longevity, but also closely associated with spiritual life, with the familiar image of the countryside.

"This kapok tree has existed since ancient times, now no one remembers since when my grandparents were born, the kapok tree has existed. Through wars and bombs, the ancient kapok tree still stands tall, overcoming ups and downs like that. From ancient times until now, the kapok tree has been a symbol of the homeland, a shade that protects and embraces the villagers of Thach Hoa, so it has always been loved and protected by the villagers," said Nguyen Thanh Dinh, a resident of Thach Hoa commune. Kapok flowers usually bloom from March to April every year, the tree's flowers dye a corner of the sky red, on one side of the kapok tree is a limestone mountain, on the other side is a vast rice field, creating a peaceful, picturesque scene.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tu, an employee of the Tuyen Hoa white-cheeked langur conservation area, said that many people previously believed that some parts of the kapok tree could cure diseases, so the tree trunk was encroached upon. Because he wanted to preserve the kapok tree as a symbol of the village and for future generations, Mr. Tu and many other people cleared and protected the kapok tree and the rare langur species at Thiet Son peak.

In April 2023, the Cultural Heritage Association of Tuyen Hoa district submitted a dossier to the competent authority for consideration and recognition of the ancient cotton tree in Thach Hoa as a Vietnam Heritage Tree. On May 23, 2023, the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment issued a document announcing: "The cotton tree in Thiet Son village 3 (Thach Hoa commune) has been approved as a Vietnam Heritage Tree". Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Mr. Tran Van Bang, Chairman of Thach Hoa Commune People's Committee, said that the orange cotton tree is the pride of local people, a symbol of the strong vitality and solidarity of the people of Thach Hoa.

Currently, Thach Hoa commune has cleared the bushes and opened the road to the area of ​​​​orange-blossoming cotton trees to serve the sightseeing and admiring needs of local people and tourists. The local government has carefully prepared to organize a ceremony to receive the certificate of recognition of heritage trees awarded by the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association. It is known that currently, the whole country has more than 4,000 recognized heritage trees. In Quang Binh alone, the cotton tree in Thach Hoa is the first heritage tree.

Dantri.com.vn

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