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The Story of the Thousand-Year-Old Tree: Why is this Oriental Poplar Called Hippocrates' Teaching Tree?
The Oriental Poplar (Platanus orientalis) is a great deciduous tree of the family Sterculiaceae, growing to 30 metres or more, with a broad canopy and longevity. In autumn, its dark green leaves transform into bright red, amber and yellow, giving nature a unique beauty.
The tree's scientific name, "orientalis," means "East," while the corresponding "Western" beech tree is named Platanus occidentalis.
The Oriental Poplar is mentioned in ancient Greek and European texts and is also well known in Asia, where it is commonly called "chinar" or "chenar" from Anatolia to India.
Distribution Range
Its origin starts from Italy, through the Balkans, Türkiye and the Caucasus, to Iran. Some sources suggest that its native range extends to Iberia, south of Palestine, and even to the east of the Himalayas. Since the tree has been widely cultivated since ancient times, it remains to be verified whether it is truly native to the surrounding areas.
Tree Characteristics
Oriental poplars are commonly found in stream environments alongside other trees such as alder, willow, and poplar. However, it can also grow successfully in dry soils once the root system is established. The tree can grow to enormous size, with some ancient trees reaching over 4 meters in diameter. Its leaves are palm-shaped and grow alternately, and the bark often peels off or becomes thick and rough.
The oriental poplar, with its rounded fruits and flowers borne in clusters of two to six flowers each, shows considerable variation in the forest.
Cultivation and Uses
The tree grows in most temperate regions but thrives best in warm summers. It is prized for its dense canopy and heavy leaves that provide shade and cooling effects during hot summers. The leaves and bark of the Oriental poplar tree also have many medical uses, and its wood is often used as "lace wood" for making furniture and has extremely high commercial value.
Cultural History
Greece
Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, taught under the Oriental Poplars on the island of Chios. A 500-year-old tree currently there may have originated from grafting after the original tree. For local villages, these trees are usually located in the central square of the village. The old trees become the pride of the villagers, and the trunks of the ancient trees can also accommodate children to play.
Rome
Pliny's Natural History records the spread of the Oriental poplar in the West, where it was first planted in the cemetery belonging to Dionysus. In the 1st century AD, it had expanded to the Moreni region of Belkirk Gol. Early on, the tree was also believed to have healing medicinal uses, with Pliny describing 25 remedies made from its bark and leaves.
Kashmir
The tree is found almost everywhere in Kashmir Valley and is considered as a symbol of the region. There is a local legend that this tree was brought in by religious missionaries from Iran in the 14th century and is closely related to the Hindu goddess. The cultivation of these trees was highly respected during the Muslim and Dogra rule.
United Kingdom
In 2011, the British Tree Register confirmed that a tree planted by Lord Capability in Wiltshire had the widest crown, and another tree on the lawn of Kew Gardens had a circumference of nearly 9 meters, making it the largest in the UK. One of the oldest trees.
Cultural References
The tree's shadows feature in George Handel's opera, The King of Celestia, and Kashmir's 'Champs-Elysees' are the region's national symbol. Its leaves were even incorporated into the design of the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
With such a long and profound cultural history, this Oriental poplar tree is truly moving. In future generations, will we still be able to cherish the value and significance of these ancient trees as much as people in history did?
