Mangoes of Indonesia

Fragrant Mango (Mangifera odorata)

On the Borneo Island in Indonesia there are 34 Mango species (Mangifera) occurring naturally on the island. Many of these species are seriously in danger of extinction due to the rainforests’ deforestation. Some of Mango species, e.g. Kalimantan Mango (Mangifera casturi) is already extinct in the wild.

Some other perspective Mango trees from Borneo are for instance the Mangifera griffithi (known under the following local names: asem raba, and romian), Mangifera pajang (asem payang), Mangifera quadrifida (asem kipang) and Mangifera torquenda (asem putaran).

Thursday 20th August 2009 23:48 | print | Exotic plants, Tropical fruits

Growing Mango from seeds

You should sow freshly harvested seeds to get the best germination results. Soak the seeds in water with a temperature of around 20–25 °C for about 2–6 hours.

Thursday 20th August 2009 23:36 | print | Exotic plants, Tropical fruits

Kalimantan Mango, Kasturi (Mangifera casturi)

Kalimantan Mango (Mangifera casturi) or locally known as Kasturi is a tropical fruit tree about 10–30 m tall which is endemic to very small area around Banjarmasin in Southern Borneo (Indonesia). Nowadays it is extinct in the wild due to illegal logging. However, it is still often cultivated in this area due to its delicious fruits.

Thursday 20th August 2009 22:48 | print | Exotic plants, Tropical fruits

The Indian Beech Tree Pongamia pinnata

Pongamia pinnata flowers

Indian Beech Tree Pongamia pinnata (other vernacular names: Honge Tree, Pongam Tree, Panigrahi) is a deciduous tree, about 15–25 meters tall, belonging to the family Fabaceae. It has a big top with many small flowers in white, pink or violet. Its origin is India, but is widely grown in South-East Asia.

Sunday 31st May 2009 12:48 | print | Exotic plants

Breadfruit Artocarpus odoratissimus, Marang

Genus Breadfruit (Artocarpus) consists of around 60 species of evergreen tropical trees from the family Moraceae (mulberry family or fig family). They occur in South East Asia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Breadfruit are closely related to the Ficus (fig trees). The most cultivated breadfruit is Artocarpus altilis (Kolo, Rimas). Several other species like Artocarpus communis, Artocarpus integer (Cempedak), Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit, Nangka, Langka) and Artocarpus odoratissimus (Marang) are part of the breadfruit family as well.

Saturday 30th May 2009 19:52 | print | Exotic plants, Tropical fruits

Parajubaea torallyi - Palma Chico, Bolivian mountain coconut

Bolivian mountain coconut seeds

Parajubaea torallyi is a handsome hardy palm from South America. However, it is rarely cultivated by gardeners outside its natural habitat, Bolivia, due to its large seeds (which means high shipping costs).

Native to Bolivia, it grows in the dry and dusty, inter-Andean valleys in an altitude of 2700–3400 m above the sea. Therefore, this palm is the highest elevation palm species to occur anywhere in the world. The temperature rarely rises above 20 °C and night frosts are not rare in this altitude. The temperature often falls to as low as –7 °C during winter months (July and August) and the annual rainfall is only a mere 550 mm.

Thursday 7th May 2009 17:23 | print | Palms, How to grow

The Khasi Pine (Pinus kesiya)

The Khasi Pine (Pinus kesiya) is a fast growing species from Asia, which is not often found in cultivation outside of its homeland. Trees are about 30–35 meters tall and the trunks may reach up to 1 m in the diameter. Each branch has three spines – each of them being around 15 to 20 cm long. The fruit of these trees (cones) are around 5 to 9 cm long and the seeds around 1,5 to 2,5 cm long.

Thursday 7th May 2009 16:55 | print | Coniferous

Frost tolerant palm Rhapidophyllum hystrix (The Needle Palm)

Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Rhapidophyllum hystrix is one of the most frost tolerant palm species. There is only one species in the genus Rhapidophyllum. The natural habitat of this palm are the wet areas of the South-Eastern part of the USA. However, thanks to its frost tolerance which is as low as – 20 °C it is a very popular garden plant around the world, particularly in Europe.

Wednesday 6th May 2009 18:04 | print | Frost tolerant palms

Indian Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

The Indian Lotus Flower

The Indian Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a beautiful aquatic plant with pea green leaves that float on the top of the water surface. The pink flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the water.
The Indian Lotus flower is held sacred and is used by the Buddhists during religious ceremonies. The whole plant is fit for human consumption; although mainly the seeds and the roots (rhizomes) are usually used in traditional cuisine throughout Southeast Asia. The Indian Lotus is a paludal plant that can be grown in the same way as growing the fragrant water lily. It is not difficult to grow this plant in our conditions; one must only know how!

Friday 16th January 2009 14:02 | print | Water and aquatic plants, How to grow

8 years of KPR - Annual Report 2008

15th Anniversary of KPR

The KPR – Gardeners Club or in Slovak language, Klub pestovateľov rastlín, was initially established in 2000 in Slovakia in Europe, however a small number of plant enthusiastic have been trading seeds and plants in Slovakia since as early as 1998. From the beginning practically nobody knew about us, but in 2001 our first website was created. From that time, many plant lovers joined us and working together it was much easier for us to get rare plants from all around the world and even start to grow some species of pants, which were unknown in Slovakia.

Thursday 25th December 2008 23:23 | print | KPR - Gardeners Club Slovakia