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Tuesday 15 augusT 2023 locAl
A10

Episode 35

Crecentia cujete: Our Calbas Tree

Since the beginning of time and transformed into a re-
people have collected and cipient, a flask or a mara-
selected all kinds of things ca. In some places in Mexi-
and for an infinite use and co oil, sugar and ethanol is
reasons. All this selecting extracted from the pulp.
and discarding contributed
in engineering man`s suc- Arubans who still carry infor-
cess into organized social mation regarding the tradi-
groups of civilization. For tional application and care
example the world’s veg- taking of islands ethnobo-
etation; plants were used to tanical heritage, should be
build shelters, bridges and taken in consideration to
transportation, for food, recorded their knowledge
medicine, color pigments, providing material for fur-
to weave clotting and ther studies for the com-
ropes, for musical instru- ing generations. Finding
ments, tools and weapons, new ways to share ethno-
and all sorts of unimagina- botanical wisdom would
ble things. surely benefit many when
presented in a way it could
In this episode we will focus be applied in a simple and
on a very special tree that contemporary context of
played a vital role in the practice.
conquest of the Caribbean ing had ever seen before. This amazing tree is consid- nature. Educate ourselves
and survival of its habitants That’s why in some regions ered to be a very sacred that these trees flowers only The common looking tree
in general. Etnia Nativa’s of Mexico they still call the tree for many ethnic cul- during night time and are grows modest in size with
selection in this episode is calbas, Crecentia cujate tural groups in the Ameri- manly pollinated by bats a lot of noted elongated
regarding a very important head of Vucub- Hunahpú. cas. Calbas tree seeds whose habitats are also branches, has tear- drop
plant which you can find in have been dispersed all threatened by the exactly leaves that can fall off,
Aruba`s country side and The Calbas as a practical, over the tropics during the same expansive demand leaving the tree leafless
emphasizing specially on reusable, bio recipient has colonial times for its prac- of land. during the dry season. Ev-
its fruit it gives. This mytho- been incredibly valuable ticality, interesting shape ery tree gives one size and
logical plant mentioned in over thousands of years, and reusable resistance. We should make it clear shape of fruit. Flowering
Popol Vuh, codex, Mayan also as a musical instru- Unfortunately for our island, that the calbas has a great occurs directly out of stem
literature, the so called ment or in healing in com- ne tree less it too many. This importance in the lives and and branches. These trees
masters of the infra-world ing-of-age rituals, festivals fascinating tree has also mythology of the Aruban are still fairly common on
who killed and decapitat- and ceremonies. The pulp suffered discrimination late- and Meso-Amerindian his- the island. Many healing
ed Vucub- Hunahpú, then of the inner fruit is cooked ly by those who considers it tory and societies, and properties have been re-
telling to go put his sev- in to syrup to guard against as something that belongs that plant in general car- corded through the ages
ered scull in a tree that was flu and upset stomach. It to the poor, therefore cut ries very practical uses. The from different regions and
planted down the road, is also said that this same down in demands of con- calbas fruit is utilized today Amerindian ethnic groups
this tree that had never white pulp full of flat black structing new buildings and in many kitchens and to which could reveal potent
ever bloomed. This action seeds is also used against infrastructure without any make beautiful and inter- cures.
of placing the skull in and ticks and fleas by smearing consideration or respect. esting hand crafts and sou-
between the branches the whole animal in it, then venirs. We invite you to make your
provoked an instant burst let it dry on its coat, let it We as a small island should appointment at Etnia Na-
of green rounded fruits cure and then rinse off with soon come to means, wake This round or spherical fruits tiva and find out about our
that covered the whole water. up and take action and has a hard shell which can stories, authentic Aruban
tree. A fruit no living be- responsibility to guard our be separated of the pulp stories.q