The most expensive tree in the world and Hagar wood

If you like curious facts, I will tell you a very interesting one that has surprised me a lot. This is the most expensive tree ever, a specimen with unique characteristics that inhabits the soil of Thailand.

The tree in question is a Aquilaria, a kind of evergreen which is native to Southeast Asia, and rests in the wat bang buddhist temple.

This specimen of Aquilaria is very particular because it is a very old tree that is more than 200 years old and it is situated in the same place long before the monastery existed. The tree is considered sacred and today it is protected by a detachment of the Thai army. However, a group of Japanese investors wanted to acquire it by offering the monks as payment no less than 23 million dollars, thus becoming the most expensive tree in history.

A unique tree

What is the underlying reason for such an amount of money? It is believed that tree is infected with a fungus which, added to the age, they get a unique wood, the most expensive wood in the world. This variety of wood is called Agar and is considered the highest quality in the world as well as having an exquisite perfume.

La Agar wood It is also known as Oud, Kynam or Kyara and its value is recognized also because of its scarcity. In addition, this wood is one of the great ingredients of many perfumes and incenses from Asia, the Middle East and Japan. The wood gives notes of oriental woods, fruits, vanilla, fresh flowers and musk. In addition, an essential oil used to make traditional medicines is extracted. Hagar wood it is so prized that it was only used by emperors and dignitaries.

Particularities of Agar wood

The most interesting thing about this news - at least for us gardening lovers - is that this wood is the result of an infection because when the tree is not attacked by the fungus the wood looks pale and colorless, it is useless. Now when the Phialophora parasitica fungus the specimen invades the tree begins to secrete a dark resin that impregnates and scents the wood. Agar wood is in high demand because this occurs after a very slow process since the resin is formed when the infection takes at least 20 years and the amount of resin that the tree needs to transform the wood is at least 8 kilos. That is why the whole process does not occur before the age of 80.