Winged seeds

Samara não identificada

Unidentified vine

This seed is too distinctive to be precisely identified. As a gliding winged seed, it disperses with the wind, and it embodies a spiritual symbolism widely used in meditation techniques. Aside from its clear resemblance to a circular winged seed such as the elm tree’s, it is possible to identify this subject as a seed due to its visible hilum, indicating where the stalk once was. Their potential for movement is largely ignored as a field of study, especially regarding what's denominated as secondary dispersion – the distance between its origin and its germination. Even so, this family of seeds has inspired several innovations in aviation.

Handroanthus impetiginosus

Pink trumpet tree (Atlantic)

This Pink trumpet tree from the Atlantic forest belonged to a seed collector from Caxambu, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Generally, Amazonian varieties of species are much larger than the varieties from the Atlantic forest. As such, the Handroanthus impetiginosus is not endemic, occurring from Mexico to Argentina, and across a good portion of the Brazilian landscape. The flowers of Handroanthus impetiginosus cover the tall crown of the tree in various shades of purple and pink, they are beautiful and attract bees, hummingbirds, wasps, butterflies, and also people who make tea from them. In 2020, a governmental Brazilian institution removed the ‘ipê’ (trumpet tree) from the international list of threatened trees. Soon, non-governmental organizations dedicated to environmental preservation went to court to reverse this decision, which, according to them, makes illegal wood export practices viable. The export of this tree is still seen as a threat to the survival of this species on the planet by entities that observe environmental facts rather than economic flows.

Handroanthus impetiginosus

Pink trumpet tree

The seeds of the Pink trumpet tree are small and flat, with wings that facilitate their dispersion by the wind. They are found inside pods, which open when ripe. The flowers of Handroanthus impetiginosus cover the tall crown of the tree in various shades of purple and pink. They are beautiful and attract bees, hummingbirds, wasps, butterflies, and also people who make tea from them. In 2020, a governmental Brazilian institution removed the ‘ipê’ (trumpet tree) from the international list of threatened trees. Soon, non-governmental organizations dedicated to environmental preservation went to court to reverse this decision, which, according to them, makes illegal wood export practices viable. The export of this tree is still seen as a threat to the survival of this species on the planet by entities that observe environmental facts rather than economic flows.

Platypodium elegans

Graceful platypodium

This variety of Jacaranda is found mainly in the Brazilian savanna biome. Its winged seeds allow the species to spread widely. Guardians of genetic plant varieties were responsible for collecting this seed in the forest, and making it available for reforestation and agroforestry projects. The Graceful platypodium is native to Brazil, and is associated with a 19th century German botanist named Vogel. It is said that he was the first to describe this species, but the indigenous Xavante people already referred to it as ‘wede itsaipro’, or “foam tree”. Its leaf is rich in Vitamin C and its fruit feeds various animals, from beetles, to parrots, to spider monkeys, in addition to its roots enriching the soil with nitrogen.

Aspidosperma subincanum

Aspidosperma subincanum

This Aspidosperma subincanum seed was donated to the Mário Lago Settlement, in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, for a reforestation project. It is used in projects of this type because it is a pioneer species, that is, it's capable of developing in environments considered inhospitable for other plants. Its seed is winged, and scattered by the wind. The potential for movement of seeds like these is often overlooked as a field of study, especially in what is called secondary dispersal – the distance between its origin and its germination.

Cybistax antisyphilitica

Green Ipe

‘Ipê’ means ‘hard shell’ in the indigenous Tupi language. Overall, the wood from these trees is valued for being strong and flexible, ideal for the production of furniture and hunting bows – which is why it was named pau d’arco (meaning ‘bow stick’ in Portuguese. This species stands out for having green flowers. According to the Amazon fund, its “bark and leaves can kill the larvae of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits the dengue fever.” This winged seed is dispersed by wind and water, although its movement potential is often ignored as a field of study, especially in what is called secondary dispersal - the distance between its origin and its germination. Even so, this family of seeds inspired several innovations in aviation.

Tecoma stans

Ipe Mirim

Tecoma stans is known as ipe mirim (meaning ‘little ipe’ in Portuguese), and is common in the urban landscaping of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Its seeds are small, measuring about 1.5 cm in length, they have a smooth, shiny surface and are light brown in color. Its root has the potential to inhibit the effects of the venom of the Indian Cobra. This winged seed is dispersed by wind and water. Although its movement potential is often ignored as a field of study, especially in what is denominated secondary dispersion – the distance between its origin and its germination, this family of seeds inspired several innovations in aviation. The family of this tree is called Bignoniaceae, and in addition to ipe mirim, this species is also known as pau d'arco-amarelo (yellow-arch stick), pau d'arco-bandeira (flag-arch stick), pau d'arco-roxo (purple-arch stick), common-ipe, ipê-do-cerrado (savanna’s ipe), and black-ipe. Native to South America, it can be easily found in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil, mainly in the states of Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul. These trees are common in savannas and riparian woodlands, where they serve as protection for rivers and lakes.

Banisteriopsis caapi

Uni

Cooking Uni (Banisteriopsis caapi) with Chacrona (Psychotria viridis) generates the famous ritualistic potion called Ayahuasca. The vine Banisteriopsis caapi is native to the forests of South America, abundant in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. It is known as caapi or cipó-mariri, but by the Yawanawá people, this robust plant was baptized as Uni. Uni contains an inhibitor called monoamine oxidase, which promotes the absorption of DMT in the human body. Chacrona is a shrub that contains DMT, or Dimethyltryptamine, and therefore the marriage between these two plants provides the essential elements for the creation of an ancient and ancestral indigenous medicine that was essential for the spiritual development of several cultures. This alchemical marriage is particular and delicate. It enables the expansion of human consciousness through visions, sensations, memories, and profound thoughts. Ayahuasca is a drink consumed for millennia inducing such altered states of mind in Amerindian shamanic rituals. As a drink, it is a classified entheogen, that is, a psychoactive substance that enables an experience of transcendence and contact with the divine. One of the most reported effects of Ayahuasca is the dissolution of the ego. The dismantling of the “I” as a concept is accompanied by the phenomenon coined in analytical psychology as 'psychic death'. This meta/euphoric death assists in the achievement of communion with a universal entirety and generates an awareness of holistic union. The consecration of Ayahuasca is central to the spiritual manifestation of forest peoples. The ritual allows for a visit to the realm of the deities, and from the tales and histories lived during these states of transcendence, a mythology is conceived that assures social cohesion through shared rites.

Amphilophium crucigerum

Monkeys comb

Known as both Amphilophium crucigerum and Pithecoctenium crucigerum, the Monkey’s comb is a vine native to Mexico, whose fruit is “thorny”, its flowers are bell-shaped of white and yellow, and its seeds are winged. These unique qualities have turned this plant into a feature of Mayan folklore. La Xtabay, a mythological figure from Mexico, more specifically in Yucatán, is said to float above a Ceiba tree in a white dress, and comb her hair with the thorny fruit of the Monkey’s comb. She was the sister of another beautiful woman named Xkeban, but they had opposite approaches towards how this beauty ought to be utilized in relationships with men. While one sister had plenty of relationships, the other took pride in staying pure. This tale is centered around how such purity is not as important as being kind. Though pure, Xtabay was unable to overcome jealousy and bitterness, so the story goes, she “seduces and punishes men”. Throughout the years of colonization, it is said that this tale has changed, namely with the arrival of the Spanish and the spread of Christianity. Through a Christian lens, the role of the tree and fruit was diminished, and the realm of purity exacerbated.