Egypt’s time-honoured trees

 Environmental treasures are ubiquitous in this country, inviting the attention of visitors wherever they go in it.

These treasures include a large number of perennial trees in different parts of Egypt.

An antiquated sycamore, known as the Virgin Mary Tree, stands proudly in the ancient district of al-Matariyyah in northern Cairo.

This great maple dominates the area and bears witness to hundreds of years of history.

It functioned as a magnet for thousands of people over the decades, who believe the maple had provided refuge for the Holy Family when it escaped to Egypt during the years 7 and 4 BC from what came to be known as the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ back in Bethlehem.

Virgin Mary is believed to have sought refuge under the tree when the soldiers of King Herod chased her to kill infant Jesus.

It is believed that the original tree, under which Virgin Mary hid, had weakened and withered in 1656AD.

Nonetheless, some Franciscan monks planted shrubs of the original tree. The shrubs grew as time passed and are believed to be blessing Egypt, bearing the memory of the great people the original tree protected one day.

In the Nile island of Zamalek, near the centre of Cairo, there is a banyan tree.

Also known as the Cairo Tower Tree, the East Indian fig tree is more than 150 years old. It never fails to invite the attention of passersby in the area.

This tree was planted at orders by Khedive Ismail in 1868. Along with the same tree, Khedive Ismail ordered the planting of a raft of other perennial trees brought from India.

The tree became an icon of Zamalek Island over the years, bearing witness to thousands of love stories and the enjoyable times spent under it by tourists and youngsters.

“This tree and others are part of Egypt’s environmental heritage that cannot be compensated,” Rim Hamdy, professor of plant taxonomy and flora at Cairo University’s College of Science, told Egyptian Mail.

Professor Hamdy, who specialises in researching archaeological and heritage plants, added that most of these trees are associated with important cultural events in Egypt’s history.

She referred to one of these trees on the campus of Cairo University in Giza, a banyan that is a lot older than the university itself.

“We are badly in need of maintaining and preserving these unrepeatable treasures,” she said.

Al-Manial, a residential island in southern Cairo which is home to the Mohamed Ali Palace, also boasts two of these trees.

One of them, a nettle tree, is 150 years old.

Professor Hamdy revealed that this tree has been a must-visit for those wishing to have children for a long time now.

The other tree, a doum palm, is called the Fatima Tree, bearing the name of Fatima, a daughter of Islam’s prophet, Muhammad.

Eucalyptus trees can be seen in abundance along the banks of the Nile, especially in Agouza district in Giza governorate.

The roots of some of these trees stretch from one bank of the river to the other bank.

“This stands as proof of the very old age of these trees,” Professor Hamdy said.

She called for raising awareness about the importance of these trees.

“We need to launch initiatives for the protection and preservation of these trees,” she said.

The oldest of all these trees by far is located outside one of the buildings of the Horticultural Research Institute in the Giza district of Dokki.

It is also located in close proximity to the Ministry of Agriculture’s building.

Known as the ‘Pharaonic sycamore’, this tree is believed to be 400 years old.

It is one of six perennial trees over 100 years old in Egypt, according to Horticultural Research Institute experts.

Another nettle tree is located in al-Qasr Village, in Nagaa Hamadi, Luxor.

This is known as the ‘Sheikh Hassan Tree’. It is a perennial that attracts visitors from all walks of life. Some people believe in the healing effect of the tree, especially for those with fertility problems and those possessed by evil spirits.

Red-coloured water pours out of the tree. Visitors drink this water and eat some of its leaves to treat disease and get blessings.

“There is a huge number of these trees around our country,” Professor Hamdy said. “We need to protect them.”