If we have to talk about a popular plant in Asian culture, it is undoubtedly the Cocculus laurifolius or bay leaf snail tree. It is valued for its beauty, because it is a simple shrub but with intense colors and highly appreciated for ornamental purposes. In addition, important medicinal properties are attributed to it and even a beautiful legend in which it is related to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. He cocculus laurifolius also known as three-veined laurel He has a lot to tell you. And we are going to share his wisdom with you through this article.
Unfortunately, it is also a species that is in danger of extinction. So take note of how much we are going to show you, because perhaps soon we will have nothing left but his memory. I hope it does not.
What is the three-veined laurel?
Botanically speaking the three-veined laurel Belongs to the Menispermaceae family. Its tree is capable of reaching a height of 12 to 18 meters and a considerable width depending on the growing conditions, which can exceed 12 meters in some cases.
They do not stand out in anything special because of the type of its leaves, which are simple, elongated and yellowish green in color without any other peculiarity, but nothing more is needed to become special. Asians who admire its beauty appreciate its perennial ornamental character, with leaves throughout the year that allow it to show off a leafy and showy crown.
Towards spring, the cocculus laurifolius produces white flowers with striking yellow dots. It also produces fruits They are capsule-shaped and start green until they turn brown as they mature.
Now, his popular nickname “three-veined laurel"It has to be for something." It is because its leaves show three veins that branch out from their base. You will also be able to see, if you look closely at its leaves, that you have two shades of green, one darker on top and another fainter on the bottom of the leaf.
It's a medium sized tree very resistant and that manages to survive very low temperatures, even 10º below zero.
How to grow cocculus laurifolius and what it needs to grow
For this tree to produce fruit there must be male and female specimens. If there are any, it will produce some stone fruits, if the climatic conditions are suitable.
You can use their cuttings to plant them, using fertilizers and rooting hormones to help the process.
A point in its favor is that it is not demanding regarding irrigation and tolerates droughts well. In addition, it is a cold-resistant specimen, although it will undoubtedly appreciate the sun much more. As for the soil, it grows healthier in soils that are limestone and siliceous.
Common diseases of this species
It is not easy to grow this specimen because, although it is resistant to climatic conditions, if there is excess humidity or prolonged drought, the tree can become ill. The same thing happens if the sun shines too much.
Additionally, the cocculus can present problems such as withering, nutrient deficit or the appearance of sucking insects that leave the laurel without food and cause its death.
The ideal is to closely monitor how this tree progresses, in order to detect any problem in time and remedy it as soon as possible. If its leaves wither, changes will have to be made in watering or exposure to the sun. If what you suffer from is malnutrition, it can be solved with a rich fertilizer. While if an insect affected you, the use of insecticides, preferably biological, can put an end to the plague.
Where can we find the three-veined laurel?
As for Places of provenance, three-veined laurel you can find it by India and Asian countries as Japan, China and other territories of the Southeast Asia. It has become very popular in gardens, although if you look for them in wild terrain, you can see them along river banks and in tropical forests where there is good humidity, mountain slopes and similar places.
A symbol in Hindu and Japanese cultures
As we said at the beginning of this article, beyond being an ordinary or extraordinary tree, depending on how you look at its three nerves that make it so characteristic, the cocculus laurifolius It has a lot of symbolism for cultures such as Hindu and Japanese.
Starting in India, this plant is associated with goddess of wealth and prosperityCalled Lakshmi. It is thought that there will be good fortune in the places where it is planted and that the goddess is being worshiped with her care and beauty, which is why it is cultivated with care.
For the Japanese it is also a very special plant, so much so that it is said that drives away bad vibes and attracts fortune.
With such a concept, it is not surprising that it is such a highly valued species, although there are more reasons for this, for example, its medicinal properties, which we will talk about below.
What properties does cocculus laurifolius have?
Advocates of Ayurvedic medicine have used three-nerve laurel for years and may still turn to it. And it is that helps calm intestinal disorders several and it is a good remedy to treat respiratory diseases. She is also very famous for her effects against parasites.
It should be added that this plant has also been used for its diuretic effects, as an excellent remedy to relieve fluid retention.
The bark of the tree has an alkaloid compound with relaxing action that has been frequently used to relax the muscles and relieve ailments related to muscle tension.
Aside from its medicinal uses, cocculus laurel is used to make dyes.
We hope that our article on the Cocculus laurifolius also known as three-veined laurel you found it interesting. Did you already know this species? What is your favorite plant? It is certainly interesting to know this laurel tree.