AWINDOW ONTO NATURE'S WORLD - A CELEBRATION OF THE "RESURRECTION" OF THE JUDEAN DATE PALM

When the Easter celebration draws near, Palm Sunday signifies the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.The crowds lining the streets spread fronds from the Judean Date Palm Tree across the route in triumphant acclamation.(Ref. Matthew 21, 1-11).

Our local palm species do not embrace the same religious significance, but recognition is essential to ensure continuity of bio-diversity.A remote and now 'rare' palm, Raphia australis - Kosi Palm, bears very long leaves creating an ideal nest for the Palmnut Vultures.Mtunzini is our nearest venue for the nesting vultures, with the palm roots securing the nearby flood plain.A palm isolated to River banks in Pondoland is Jubaepsis caffra - Pondo Coconut, with its large round hanging bunches of slow maturing coconut-type fruits.More common and scattered, the East Coast hosts Hyphaene coriacea - Lala Palm, with attractive long, grey-green fan-shaped leaves.Male and female emerge on different trees with large brown seed bunches appearing in summer.Similarly, our Phoenix reclinata - Wild Date Palm, displays male and female flowering on different trees.The roots are invaluable in anchoring the fine coastal, sandy soils and stream embankments.

The Judean Date Palm - Phoenix dactylifera once grew across vast semi dry areas in Israel, but proliferated around the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan Valley and within the city of Jericho.History records that 2000 years ago the ravages and plundering throughout these areas by the aggressive Romans sadly caused extinction of the Judean Date Palm.The Jewish people, in desperation withdrew to the City of Masada, where mass suicide occurred, with their food left in a storeroom as evidence.2000 years later a team of Archaeologists investigating the site in the 1960's discovered with amazement that seeds from the Judean Date Palm had survived.These were removed and remained in storage.Forty years later, Dr. Sarah Sollon, an expert Medical Scientist managed to persuade the authorities to release a few seeds for re-cultivation.Of course, they thought she was mad! However, with the extreme scientific expertise of her friend, Dr. Elaine Solowey, (a desert plant expert), the daunting task of rejuvenation had begun.Dr. Solowey under-took a process of re-hydration, fertilizer treatment and extreme caring.Great excitement erupted in July 2005 when one seed sprouted and was planted.The male Date Palm "Methuzelah" had arrived, with pollen gradually evident.This spurred Sarah Sollon to obtain more seeds, with successful germination of new palms appropriately given Biblical names: Judah, Hannah, Judith, Boaz and Adam.The final achievement was the cross-pollination between "Methuzelah" and "Hannah" with the first crop of dates reaped after a period of 2000 years of extinction. The medical expertise of Sarah Sollon also awakened the authorities to the highly beneficial nutritive and medicinal value of the dates. Then by 2020, the new production boosted local food availability and in turn benefitted the economy.

Despite the changes and recorded weather shifts, with the 16^th to 19^th Centuries recording cooler conditions, new life can grow again.The "Resurrection" of the Judean Date Palm is a unique example and indicator that Nature Conservation should remain in the hands of highly qualified Conservationists, linked to similarly qualified scientists and not allowed to fall into the hands of today's Aggressors, often greedy, corrupt and creators of waste lands, like the Romans.The plundering of our Natural and highly beneficial Natural Environment is not justified in any era.Heritage Day may hopefully serve to reinforce that Conservation, Stabilisation, Maintenance and where needed Rehabilitation of all species and creatures, both great and small is paramount.

The Judean Date Palm Tree has "Risen Again" proving the unique resilience of Nature to enjoy a triumphant arrival for the Easter Celebration for all Mankind.

Acknowledgement of Information to Mrs. A. Kok (Pharmacist), in Tvl. .

Reference to :Arawa Institute in Israel. Linked Ref:Dr. Sarah Sollon & Dr. Elaine Solowey.

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Word Count :617 - 14 =Beneficial Flow of Information and 1+ 4 = 5 = the colour GREEN for HARMONY!!