Blooming Ternestreia in Sochi: Savoring the Aromatic Flower
In the heart of Sochi National Park, the glorybower (Ternstroemia gymnanthera) is currently in full bloom, adding a splash of colour and a unique aroma to the park's landscape. Known as the "king of garden trees" or Japanese glorybower, this plant is not just a visual delight, but also holds potential medicinal benefits.
The glorybower, a member of the Pentaphylacaceae family (formerly Theaceae), is native to parts of Asia and naturally grows at altitudes of 1200-1500 meters above sea level in the Himalayas. In Sochi, it can be found blooming in the lower part of the Dendrarium, a popular tourist attraction.
While detailed, widely recognized medicinal uses or pharmacological properties specific to Ternstroemia gymnanthera are not well-documented in major ethnobotanical or pharmacological sources, some traditional uses have been recorded. For instance, the leaves of the glorybower are used to reduce swelling and alleviate pain, while crushed flowers are applied to large ulcers, carbuncles, and mastitis. The flowers are also known to alleviate pain and itching, and are used to treat ringworm.
Traditional medicine also employs the glorybower to treat ulcers, pleurisy, and even malaria, although these uses require further scientific validation. It is also attributed with anti-cancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and insecticidal effects, but these claims require more extensive research.
It's important to note that while the glorybower holds potential medicinal benefits, the lack of specific and authoritative ethnomedicinal evidence means that a reliable summary of its medicinal uses cannot be provided with certainty. For those seeking detailed information on traditional uses or pharmacology, specialized ethnobotanical literature or pharmacognosy studies focused on Ternstroemia gymnanthera would be the best sources to consult.
As the glorybower continues to bloom in Sochi, park visitors can appreciate its beauty and potential medicinal properties, while researchers continue to study this fascinating plant further. The park's leading scientific employee, Galina Saltani, is at the forefront of these efforts, working diligently to uncover the full potential of this remarkable plant.
The glorybower, native to Asia, is not only a visual delight in Sochi National Park but also has traditional uses in health-and-wellness, such as reducing swelling and alleviating pain with its leaves, treating ringworm with its flowers, and potentially treating ulcers, pleurisy, and malaria. However, these traditional uses require scientific validation, and further research is needed to confirm its therapies-and-treatments and nutritional benefits.
