The Magic of the Cities.

Zen promotes the rediscovery of the obvious, which is so often lost in its familiarity and simplicity. It sees the miraculous in the common and magic in our everyday surroundings. When we are not rushed, and our minds are unclouded by conceptualizations, a veil will sometimes drop, introducing the viewer to a world unseen since childhood. ~ John Greer

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Ahuehuete


Detail

Taxodium mucronatum, also known as Montezuma Cypress, Sabino, or Ahuehuete is a species of Taxodium native to much of Mexico (south to the highlands of southern Mexico), and also the Rio Grande Valley in southernmost Texas, USA as well as Huehuetenango Department in Guatemala. Ahuehuete is derived from the Nahuatl name for the tree, āhuēhuētl, which means "upright drum in water" or "old man of the water."

Ahuehuete became the national tree of Mexico in 1910. The tree is sacred to the native peoples of Mexico, and is featured in the Zapotec creation myth. To the Aztecs, the combined shade of an āhuēhuētl and a pōchōtl (Ceiba pentandra) metaphorically represented a ruler's authority. According to legend, Hernán Cortés wept under an ahuehuete in Popotla after suffering defeat during the Battle of La Noche Triste.

Ahuehuetes are frequently cultivated in Mexican parks and gardens. The wood is used to make house beams and furniture. The Aztecs used its resin to treat gout, ulcers, skin diseases, wounds, and toothaches. A decoction made from the bark was used as a diuretic and an emmenagogue. Pitch derived from the wood was used as a cure for bronchitis The leaves acted as a relaxant and could help reduce itching. (Wiki)

music+image

New York City and Washington series continue in Sketches of Cities.
(Under construction)

Gracias por su visita. / Thanks for visiting, please be sure that I read each and every one of your kind comments and I appreciate them all. Stay tune.

11 comments:

Cris said...

WAW, que gigante e linda foto.
Me encanta esa luz! está todo precioso!

brattcat said...

You completely capture the deep and ancient beauty of this vital entity.

Anonymous said...

It looks to be a beautiful tree and quite dense and large. It sure casts a large shadow. And all of the uses are amazing. Especially if they work.

Kate said...

The light and shadow enhance the image of the tree. Thanks for the background information;it's important to know and appreciate.

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

beautiful images and very interesting as I did not realize the ties of this tree to the Zapotecs

AB said...

A very dreamy looking tree!

Unknown said...

La primera es una maravilla , gran foto, felicidades

JUDO said...

Wow.Beautiful photos.

Anya said...

Your first picture is so wonderful
nature shadow green its perfect !!

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Very interesting photos.

gogouci said...

The droopy branches and long shadows make the tree look so surreal and mysterious.