Sunday, January 11, 2009

Pandanus Tree and Seed Pod Brushes




We have found a pandanus tree on the beach.  The leaves are used to weave mats and bags and baskets.  The seed pod is the size of a large pineapple.  After the seed pod matures and drops to the ground, you can go find the segments of the pod broken apart under the tree.  These are the brushes we use to put lines and symbols on tapa.  Don't you think they are perfect brushes?  You can trim them with scissors if you want a smaller point.  They are about the length of my thumb. Samoan tapa devotes one of its nine symbols to the pandanus tree.  I love this tree. Did you see that growth hangs down from the branches and then roots in the ground and becomes root/support?  Cool.
Linda

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