This Special Features examines five plants in a
variety of biomes that all have interesting uses or habitats and are in
the Arabian Nights expansion! So lets take a closer look at the...
Fantastic Foliage
The Sundari Tree
This
Wetlands tree makes up over seventy percent of the worlds largest
mangrove forest, the Sundarbans delta at the mouth of the Ganges. The
Sundarbans takes its name from the Sundari trees, and literally means
"beautiful forest". These dense mangrove forests are also home to the
only group of man-eating tigers in the world, but in Arabian Nights
these mangrove trees create comfortable habitats for Mugger Crocodiles,
Smooth Coated Otters and more!
The Aswad Pomegranate Tree
This
desert tree is most notable for the culinary uses of it's fruit. The
juice of the fruit is used in Iranian cuisine, and the dried seeds are
used as a spice called anardana in Persian, Middle Eastern and Indian
cuisine. The pomegranate also has a lot of religious and cultural
symbolism all around Arabia and beyond, and the fruit is believed to
give long and healthy life. Your desert-loving Arabian animals will
enjoy the juicy fruit from this tree as well!
The Neem Tree
This
evergreen tree is highly resistant to drought, and has fragrant white
flowers. It also known for its medicinal powers, with nicknames such
as "Divine Tree" and "Village Pharmacy" in India. The oil of the tree
is supposedly good for acne and other skin care, and Neem products are
anti-bacterial and anti-viral. The Neem tree is also a source of
environment-friendly natural pesticides. Your Lesser Indian Civets
will enjoy the shelter and climbing opportunities that this medicinal
plant provides!
|
The Wild Caper
This
spiny shrub is best known for the food named after it, which are salted
and picked buds of the Caper bush. Most probably encountered on
Italian pizzas, the Caper grows from the Mediterranean to Arabian
regions. This plant has also been harvested for medicinal purposes,
believed to be effective against rheumatism and treating inflammation,
and even indigestion. Your Coastal inhabiting Arabian animals will
love the shelter provided by the Wild Caper!
The Harmal
This
Scrubland shrub will provide plenty of cover for your Rock Hyraxes, but
it is also considered in the Middle East to have many spiritual
properties. It has been used to create mystical experiences, and is
used as an air cleanser when burned as incense. In Turkey capsules of
the Harmal are kept around the home to keep away the "evil eye". This
humble shrub will introduce a little bit of Arabian mystery into your
zoos! |
|
