Stand on the Wood Chips Trail, you can close your eyes, observe the wild by your "ears." How many sound do you hear? Just in a moment, you can hear the call of Chinese Bulbul, Grey treepie and Black Bulbul, even the dropping sound of Teak's fruits. The Teak trees beside the trail are planted by soldiers. Though many trees are foreign species, there are many native trees, such as Taiwan Ehretia, Camphor tree and Incense Machilus. Visitors can observe the plants and animals and learn from the wild.
Enjoy the Green-Wood Chips Trail
Look, Does this Camphor tree look like a moose?(Right)
The trail is made of sleepers; the sleeper stairs are covered by wood chips; the chips can hold the moisture and provide habitation to small animals. Walk along the trail, you will see artificial wetland, Animal Farm and Succession Area.
Common Plants on the Wood Chips Trail
Teak
Teak is a material of furniture with high quality. When you stand under the Teak trees and look up, the sunshine turns crystal green through the leaves. (Photo 1) In the past, Teak is also used for food coloring, usually in making hung kuei cakes. The liquid from Teak's leaves turns red after being rubbed. Don't let the red liquid on your clothes, otherwise, you can't wash it off. (Photo 2)
Photo 1
Photo 2
Teak's fruit looks like little lantern. When you peel it, you can see flowers, pretty fun!(Photo 3, 4)
Photo 3
Photo 4
Shell Ginger
Shell Ginger fulls of treasures, its stem, flower and fruit are edible. Have you eaten Zongzi? Think about the taste and smell of Zongzi and hung kuei cakes, are they familiar? Taiwanese usually use Shell Ginger's leaves to wrap Zongzi and hung Kuei cakes. Besides, the underground stem can be the replacement of Ginger. The above-ground stem has firm and long fiber, can be made as rope; the flower can be displays and cooked; the seed can be used for medical purpose. Every part of Shell Ginger has different advantages! (Photo 5) Spiders can be seen on Shell Gingers' leaves, are them attracted by Shell Gingers' perfume?
Photo 5
Photo 6
Lagerstroemia subcostata kochne
Lagerstroemia subcostata kochne, which trunk is distinct. Its skin is often peeled off by nature, that makes the trunk slippery and brown. The tree skin is similar to guava tree. The surface looks like being waxed, even monkey can't climb the tree, thus, the tree also called "Monkey' trouble," "Slippery monkey tree.
Photo 7
Photo 8
Giant Upright Elephant Ear
Giant Upright Elephant Ear is toxic. Its leaves are similar to Taro's; accordingly, people usually accidentally consume by misunderstanding. To know the difference, you can pour water over the leaves, if the water splash, it is Giant Upright Elephant Ear; otherwise, if the water forms into drops, it's Taro.
Photo 9
Q&A
Answer the quiz, see how much you've learned?
1. Which trees on Wood Chips Trail, its leaves turn red once being rubbed?
Formosa AcaciaCamphor treeTeak
2. What is the stairs on Wood Chips Trail made of?
The chopped tree in the camping placeWasted sleepersConcrete
3. What can be found in the chips?
MillipedeLocustDragonfly
4.Which plant's leaves can be used for wrapping Zongzi?
TeakGiant Upright Elephant EarShell Ginger
5.Which tree is foreign species?
Taiwan EhretiaTeakCamphor tree
6. There is a moose-like tree on the Wood Chips Trail, what kind of the tree is?
Camphor treeLagerstroemia subcostata kochnePaper Mulberry
7. What spider can't be trap by its own web?
Spider steps on warpSpider steps on weftSpider's legs have fur
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