The walking palm tree

The walking palm tree
Originally uploaded by maujb.

This tree can "walk" several centimeters a year by putting down shoots and pulling itself along toward water or light. Amazing.
We also sample a bit of the bark of the Quinine tree, used as a treatment for malaria. Ironically, malaria came from Africa where there are no quinine trees and was brought to South America during the slave trade years. The indians had a cure for a disease that was not yet known.
Another interesting tree is known as the "telephone" tree, as the drumming on the tree can be heard from miles and was used as a signal for such important events as lunchtime and "beer o'clock" by the natives for millenia.