Cinchona Plant Many of us, including myself, sometimes take the plants around us for granted, going as far as calling them bush and using our machetes to chop them out of our yards, gateways and fences as they tend not to highlight our beautiful surroundings. But we need to stop doing that and find out more about the so called bush/es what our ancestors used to use them for and what are their true benefits. Even in the Bible you will find the names of plants that have been used for many purposes. How many of you know the Cinchona plant? How many of you know the background behind the plant? The Cinchona plant brought to Jamaica from Peru by the Spanish, these gardens offer spectacular views of the Blue Mountain Ridge and parts of Kingston. Quinine, an extract of this plant, was used to treat malaria. The Spanish learned about this medicinal property by observing the Peruvian Indians and the plant came to be known as Jesuits Bark before being renamed for the Countess of Cinchona, the wife of the Spanish viceroy of Peru, who benefited from treatment. When Cinchona was first planted, it fetched a high price on the world market and a good return on the funds invested realized. However, due to poor roads, a lack of general transport in the area and labour costs, this project could not compete competitively on the world market. It eventually failed in 1899. A second section of the land was planted out in tea but Jamaica never could compete with tea from India. A third section, which is all that remains, was known as a European Garden with the cinchona tree, mulberry, camphor, cork oak, juniper and rubber trees as well as garden flowers that thrive in northern climates. (Taken from Pieces of the Past - The Jamaica Gleaner)
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 00:32:29 +0000
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