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Saludos Comunidad

Feliz inicio de semana llena de salud, energía, ideas maravillosas y mucho entusiasmo en cada actividad que realicen.

Greetings Community

Happy start to the week filled with health, energy, wonderful ideas, and lots of enthusiasm in every activity you undertake.

Accepting the invitation to the March Flora and Fauna challenge, I begin my participation in the Amazing Nature community. As @biologistbrito points out, in addition to researching and learning about nature in an academic/scientific way, there's another aspect: having fun while searching and documenting. This leads us to be more observant of everything around us. I would also add that we can't help but be amazed by what's there and what we often overlook. Another point: every piece we share tells a story, and that's what every post is about.

My participation in this challenge is with the animal Chicken and the Pesgua tree (each with its own personal story).

The chicken is a bird of the Phasianidae family, whose scientific name is Gallus gallus, and is a domesticated subspecies of the wild rooster.

The rooster and hen (Gallus gallus domesticus) are the domesticated subspecies of the Gallus gallus, a galliform bird of the Phasianidae family native to Southeast Asia. Common names include rooster (male), hen (female), chick (young), and baby chick (newly hatched). It is the most numerous bird on the planet, with an estimated population exceeding sixteen billion. Roosters and hens are primarily raised for their meat and eggs. Their feathers are also used, and some breeds are raised and trained for cockfighting and as ornamental birds.

They are omnivorous birds with short flights. Their lifespan ranges from five to ten years, depending on the breed.
They possess two types of caruncular protuberances on their heads: a crest on the crown and wattles that hang on either side of the beak. The back is covered with a layer of golden feathers from the neck to the tail.

Roosters and hens exhibit clear sexual dimorphism and can be distinguished at a glance. Males are larger, measuring approximately 50 cm in height and weighing up to 4 kg. They have a large reddish comb on their head, which is interpreted as a symbol of dominance. The tail is composed of large, arched, dark feathers that shimmer blue, purple, or green in the light. Two white patches appear on either side of their head, distinguishing them from other closely related breeds, in addition to their grayish legs. In some breeds, the legs are also equipped with spurs.

Fuente

Hens are smaller. They rarely exceed 40 cm in height and weigh less than 2 kg. Their coloring is noticeably less striking. Their fleshy appendages on their heads are also much less prominent.

Source

Tomar estas fotos fue todo un reto, porque lo quise así al natural, sin agarrarlo.

The story of this chick on its journey to becoming a handsome rooster.

My husband brought some hens home, eager to get eggs every day, which isn't a crazy idea. He tried it, but then realized he needed to dedicate more time to caring for them, cleaning their spaces and feeding them. Little by little, he got rid of each hen and a beautiful, scrawny rooster his sister had given him. He gained weight, grew, and became very handsome.

Why did he decide to get rid of them and keep Toribio (the chick in the photos)? Well, the hens, whenever they were out of their coops, started exploring my yard. Most of it is concrete; there's very little soil. However, I have my little herb plants for making tea, and beautiful colorful potted plants, some of them in large containers.

Well, that exploration of the space led them to damage my little garden. My husband was convinced and decided to get rid of them. He sold the rooster named Napoleon, along with the other hens (they did give us some eggs, not many). This chick, Toribio, arrived with his mother, Chilindrina, who was also sold. Toribio was left alone and was adopted by a man who hasn't come to claim him yet. During this time of waiting, Toribio has grown in size and his crowing has improved. His crowing is no longer hoarse; it's starting to sound like a rooster's. His crowing is clearer and occurs at the times that his nature dictates.

Taking these photos was quite a challenge because I wanted to capture him naturally, without handling him.

The plant I'm bringing is the Pesgua or Jambolán, and I also have a story with this plant. On my daily walks, especially on weekends, I change location and head towards Plaza Bolívar in El Tigre, Anzoátegui, because a small group of us meet there and do yoga. As we become observers, well, on one of our walks, why not? I've never written anything about this plant.

The pesgua, scientifically known as Syzygium cumini (or jambolán/Java plum), is a tropical fruit with a deep purple color, oval shape, and a sweet and sour/astringent flavor, highly prized in Venezuela. It is rich in antioxidants (anthocyanins), vitamins A and C, and is used in sweets, jellies, and traditional medicine to manage diabetes.

This plant, also known as pijóa, paramito, jámbola, jambul, or laurel cimarrón, has a large trunk and is one of the most emblematic trees in Venezuela. It can reach a height of 10 to 15 meters. Its flowers are yellowish-green, and its pulp is white and astringent, with a resinous flavor. It is generally used in jellies, juices, vinegars, and wines. Its leaves are oval-shaped, opposite, large, and glossy, with prominent veins. They measure between 7 and 15 centimeters long, dark green on the upper surface and lighter on the underside.

The flowers are small and white, as are their petals. They appear alongside the edible black berries. The fruit grows in clusters of 10 to 40, is round but sometimes elongated, and measures about 2 inches long. When young, they are light green to magenta, turning black as they ripen. Their vibrant colors are due to a pigment synthesized by the plant itself. Studies by some experts suggest that it has medicinal properties derived from these phytochemical pigments, which are found in greater quantities in the bark and seeds.

Fuente

The medicinal properties of this tree are not limited to its fruit; they are also found in its leaves and stem. It possesses antibacterial properties, and its leaves are antiviral, anti-allergic, and even anti-cancerous. The substance in its fruit, which gives it its distinctive purple-to-black color, helps fight free radicals, thus preventing aging. Many people use the bark and leaves as infusions to maintain glucose levels, and it is used in the treatment of diabetes. It has no known side effects, except in cases of excessive and uncontrolled use.

Source

My story with the Pesgua goes back to my childhood. I was born in Cantaura, Anzoátegui, and my neighbor had a Pesgua tree in front of her house. It didn't seem very welcome, and there was very little information about it. I didn't even know the name I used for it until a few days ago when I started researching it; I only discovered its name is Pesgua.

All my life—I'm in my golden years, as they say—I called it Guamuro or Guamura. My father wouldn't let us eat the fruit. He said it caused stomach problems. He didn't like the tree because the fruit stained the pavement. If a car passed by, it would get stained, and it was difficult to remove the color. He also said it attracted birds that he didn't like. I never dared to eat them, unlike what I saw others doing.

Well, sometimes, and on other trees of this type, the fruit was larger and sweeter. I would jokingly try to eat one, and it seemed sweet and delicious. But in my mind, I heard my father's voice telling us not to eat this fruit. I don't know if I'll do it now because, according to the research I've done, it's very nutritious and can be eaten like any other fruit.

The plants in Bolívar Square might not be ripe for fruiting. I found a small branch that I was able to photograph; the ones on the ground are eaten by birds. It wasn't as abundant as other times, when it creates a carpet of this fruit. Perhaps it's ignored, or maybe they share the same misconception I have. Now my job is to dispel that misconception; I think it's going to be a bit of a challenge.