Transplanting of Malabar chestnut

The total tree seedlings planted today was 191!! 

Quite enjoyed on doing the transplanting of trees. 

The scientific name of the tree is Pachira aquatica (馬拉巴栗：Ma la ba li).

It is a evergreen plant, the tree trunk is green in colour; the leaves are palmate, oblong to narrowly obovate leaflets, and have leathery shiny. The capsule formed is 10 to 30 cm long, while the seeds are brown and spherical. 

The uses of the tree are usually planted as indoor ornamental plant; the seeds are edible after cooked and taste like peanut; and the trunk can be processed to make paper and glue. 

There is a story about the plant:-

In year 1986, Wayne typhoon happened in Taiwan, a truck driver who couldn't go out for work and he just stayed at home to help his wife engaged in the work of braid hair. A momentary whim, he grabbed the five Malabar chestnut planted in a same pot and put them in a pigtails bent branches, then renamed as "Pachira" (發財樹：Fa cai shu) to sell. This method of tied branches was spread to Japan and then received a warm welcome since it became one of the popular ornamental plants in Southeast Asia.  

- Kai Wei -

3rd June 2014