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Are bottle trees native to Australia?

Are bottle trees native to Australia?

Brachychiton rupestris, commonly known as the narrow-leaved bottle tree or Queensland bottle tree, is a tree in the family Malvaceae native to Queensland, Australia.

Why do Southerners hang bottles in trees?

In the Congo, Natives have hung hand-blown glass on huts and trees to ward off evil spirits since the ninth century, and perhaps earlier. The Legend is told that the spirits are attracted to the sparkling color of the bottles, blue ones seemingly more enticing.

What is the legend of the bottle tree?

A bunch of blue bottles arranged in an odd formation on the tips of tree branches. The legend is, early Africans believed that when night rolled around, the bottles lured and trapped evil spirits in them and held them hostage until the rising morning sun could destroy them.

What do bottle trees signify?

While the meaning of bottle trees continues to evolve as it has for centuries, one of the more common interpretations is that they protect the home and garden by catching evil spirits, which some say are attracted to the bottles by their bright colors (sometimes made by swirling paint on the inside of a clear bottle).

What is the difference between a bottle tree and a Boab tree?

They are two different species even though they are both commonly called Bottle Trees. The Queensland Bottle Tree (Brachychiton rupestris) is not a boab. Bottle Trees are taller, they grow to 20 metres, whilst Boab Trees grow to about 14 metres. Bottle Trees have 12 species in Australia, whilst Boab’s have only 1.

Which plant is known as bottle tree?

Bottle tree, any of various trees of the genus Brachychiton, in the hibiscus, or mallow, family (Malvaceae), with some 30 species, nearly all native to Australia. They grow to a height of 18 metres (60 feet). They are cultivated in other warm regions as ornamentals. The name refers to the peculiar shape of the trunk.

Why do people hang colored bottles?

According to stories passed down through generations, the bottles were hung upside down to entice the curiosity of evil spirits. Drawn by the rich, cobalt color, the spirits would enter the bottles and become trapped. The evil spirits would be destroyed when the sun rose the following morning.

What is the history of a bottle tree?

Glass ‘bottle trees’ originated in ninth century Kongo during a period when superstitious Central African people believed that a genii or imp could be captured in a bottle. One could then cork the bottles and throw them into the river to wash away the evil spirits.

Where does the myth of the bottle tree come from?

There is a Hoodoo tradition that says the bottle tree should be created at a crossroads. “For years I subscribed to the common thread of lore that dates the origin of bottle trees to the Congo area of Africa in the 9th Century A.D.

Where did the southern bottle tree come from?

The bottle tree can be traced to African slaves brought to the Charleston area in the 1700’s.

When did African people start making bottle trees?

The folk art tradition of creating bottle trees carried over to the people of the Congo starting in the ninth century. African people brought the tradition of bottle trees with them when the slave trades began in the 17th century. During this time, African slaves on Southern plantations began placing bottles on trees.

What kind of bottles are used in bottle trees?

As a Southern tradition, bottle trees are always made from blue glass bottles (these could be wine or beer bottles) one saves over the course of several years.