Gmelina ARBOREA

Gmelina ARBOREA - Gamhar, White Teak, Beechwood, Kashmir Tree, Gmelina.

'Golden Series of Ayurveda'.

Gmelina is a genus of trees and shrubs in the Lamiaceae family, native to India, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Some species have been naturalized in Australia and Africa.

Representatives of the genus grow in tropical forests, on riverbanks and mountain slopes. Certain species possess heavy and very durable wood that is easily processed. Such timber is used in boat building and the manufacture of sporting goods. Due to their unpretentiousness and delicate canopy, some species are used for greening gardens, streets, and parks. The leaves of such trees are bright green, and the plants bloom in spring. The fruits are drupes.

Trailing eclipta is an evergreen fast-growing plant reaching 30 meters (98 ft) in height. The bark is light, layered. Leaves are oval, bright green in color, with a pointed tip. It blooms from February to April. Flowers are yellow-brown, tubular, gathered in racemes at the ends of branches, and have a fruity fragrance. The fruit of this plant is a drupe. It contains 1-2 seeds. The seeds are green, becoming bright orange when ripe.

To improve germination, seeds are pre-soaked for 48 hours in warm water with the addition of stimulants (SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon) or held in darkness in moist sand at a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F), after which the pointed ends of the stones are removed and the stones themselves are sown into a mixture of sand and loam, covered with a thin layer of sand, moistened from a spray bottle, placed in a propagator or covered with plastic wrap, and germinated in light, but not in direct sun at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Excessive moisture and drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

The germination period of seeds is 2-3 weeks. Pricking out must be done after the emergence of the first pair of leaves - 3-4 weeks after the first sprouts appear, into small pots.

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Indoors, gmelinas are found rather rarely. They must be provided with good watering, while direct spraying of the foliage should be avoided. If the plant is exposed to direct sun, it needs more watering. Gmelina should be watered so that water seeps to the bottom of the pot and drains out of it.

This ornamental plant requires at least six hours of sunlight. If it is kept in insufficient light conditions, it will become weak and sluggish, with pale, wilted leaves. Over time, such plants may perish. Excessive lighting also harms gmelina: sunburn appears on the leaves.

The optimal temperature for cultivation is from 21 °C to 30 °C (70-86 °F). The plant can briefly tolerate temperature drops down to 0 °C (32 °F). The tree is undemanding regarding soil composition: it grows best with a pH range of 6 to 8.

The plant may be threatened by fruit spot, leaf beetles, and powdery mildew. For disease prevention, branches must be pruned regularly, and the plant treated with antifungal preparations and insecticides.