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CLICK TO RETURN TO PAGE 2 OF LIST OF PAPERS CLICK TO RETURN TO PAGE 1 OF LIST OF PAPERS CLICK TO RETURN TO PAGE 3 OF LIST OF PAPERS 70. KRULIK, GERALD, Deep in the Amazon, PUP TALK (Saddleback Valley Bromeliad Society), 17(7), p. 3-4, July, 2010. Deep In The Amazon Jungle By Jerry Krulik Recent discoveries in the deep Amazon jungle have located both an unknown tribe, and a very unique type of bromeliad. This tribe had been speculated to exist, from airplane surveys showing small, scattered clearings with tiny cultivated areas, but no signs of huts or people. Occasional canoes were seen, some drifting quietly with loads of vegetation, as the planes passed overhead. It was not until an intrepid Boy Scout troop, intent on earning their pathfinder merit badge (they were lost, so did not qualify for it) reached this area on foot, that the mystery was solved. The people were there all the time, but were just not recognized as such. The heaps of vegetation that had been seen in the canoes, were the people! Like many Amazonian peoples in the sweltering jungle, they ran around naked. Unlike the rest, their bodies were covered with a living blanket of a novel, symbiotic species of bromeliad. Formal descriptions of the plants will come soon. The long lived, perennial branching plant seems to have characteristics of Neoregelia, Cryptanthus, and some unknown genus. This seems to be ancient symbiosis. Such associations are well-known in nature. For example, coral polyps take green algae inside of them, which grow in their tissues and furnish food while the coral provides fertilizer. Tree sloths in South America are often covered with growths of green algae on their hairs. And humans have the human flea, and human lice, which can live on no other host. But this is the first known example of a human-plant symbiosis. Babies are swaddled in a mixture of rich swamp mud and bromeliad seeds. The seeds rapidly germinate and penetrate the skin. The plants are green, plus red, purple, and other colors, and take any needed nutrients directly from the blood of the people. Only the palms of the hands and soles of the feet are uncovered. Frequent trimming is needed to allow unrestricted vision. The plants are highly integrated with their host biochemistry. Growth is rapid, providing protection from the elements and excess sunlight, and extra food for the youngsters. Flowering is delayed until the children reach adolescence. Normal sexual experimentation is visible to all, as seen in the patterns of seed pods which result from close body contact. The beginning of the major rainy season promotes massive blooms of this bromeliad, with corresponding human activity, which is followed nine months later by the normal result. Indeed, the healthiest and lustiest persons were truly ‘flower people’, sought out for special relationships and bromeliad cross-fertilization. Flowering tapers off as people age and eventually nearly ceases. There are many pluses to this style of living. I think the fact that baldness is unknown, is the best, but I may be a bit self-centered on this topic. They do not need to spend time weaving and sewing, building huts, or even growing much food. Most of their caloric needs are supplied by the plants, so their stomachs and digestive system have shrunk. Obesity seems unknown. They only need small meals of mainly high protein beans or other plants, fish, and animals, to supply the nitrogen and minerals that the plants cannot supply. Human beauty is not an issue, through regular pruning and cultivation is important. The oldest people are not neglected but are given prime sites to vegetate on (sorry), among the beans and medicinal and narcotic crop plants. As people age and slow down, they eventually just become almost immobile, as the broms form bigger, thicker, and heavier, clusters. The very oldest people slowly fade away, eventually being totally consumed by the plants, which then in turn degenerate and die from lack of human-supplied nutrients. These living pyramids of broms are semi-sacred, being oracles and maintainers of tribal histories and traditions. The very oldest are the final judges in cases of disputes, though sometimes judgments are long in coming. However, once they essentially stop moving, they are extremely long lived. Carbon dating is in progress on some of them, but the number and size of mounds/people imply an extended life span of well over a hundred years. Chiefs alone have special types of colorful bromeliad plants, which look to be a different species, planted in patterns and geometric arrays reminiscent of tattoos. Other people make do with selected clones of the basic species, varying in leaf color, shape, and size, just like our own horticultural hybrids. There are also epiphytic orchids, pepperomias, and other exotic plants which are tied to the basic bromeliad structure. It can be difficult, at least for westerners, to tell the men from the women. They do make many specialized tools, most horticultural related. Special acupuncture-like tools transplant new clones or seedlings where they are wanted. Many types of cutters and pruners are used, often for specific areas of the body. The furniture consists of specialized designs of openwork wicker seats and beds, designed to not crush the plants by fitting directly against the invisible skin. These people have a rich cultural life regardless. How do they spend their time? They have elaborate religious rites, centered around the sacred bromeliad-of-life, of course. Then there are singing, dancing, and music festivals, horticultural beauty contests, complicated tribal bonding rituals, controlled aggression in ritualistic fights between villages and groups, and so on. The worst insult is to be taken captive, and ritually pruned of all the clumps of broms in front of the assembled tribe. These poor unfortunates have to hide in scrub forest, risking chills, sunburn and malnutrition, victims of scorn and laughter, until their personal grocery store-cum haberdashery grows back. This cultural idea, by the way, made initial dealings with these people very difficult. They acted contemptuous of clothed or unclothed explorers, refusing to have more than minimal contact with them. Then one scientist hit upon the idea of wearing brightly colored Hawaiian shirts, printed long pants, and livid flowery caps. Now the explorers became exotic creatures, sought out and asked if they could provide cuttings of their odd floral coverings. What can we expect in the future? This tribe is expected to become rich very soon. There are rumors of bidding wars between the UN Food For Peace program, Dior, Gucci, NASA for space exploration, and an unnamed Dutch horticultural conglomerate. The international adult entertainment industry is said to be trying to get control of the licensing, in order to bury the plants and safeguard their photo and video business. I will keep you posted as news develops. In the meantime, I would not discount the possibility that certain bromeliads may soon be seen as ultra fashionable and expensive accessories in the next European fashion shows. |
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