THE WILLOW PATTERN TREE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22593, 24 December 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE WILLOW PATTERN TREE

(By Winifred Chapman) From earliest times symbolism has played a part in the minds of the people of all nations, certain objects or customs being held sacred. An interesting example of this is the Chinese belief that a beautiful tree of prehistoric origin was sacred, and for this reason was always planted near their temples for protection. This tree, examples of which you can see by taking a short walk in the city, is that known as the Ginkgo biloba, or Chinese Maidenhair Tree. Even if you never see a living specimen, if you look at a willowpattern plate you will discern a tree of unusual structure, and this is believed to represent the Ginkgo biloba. The design for the socalled willow-pattern plates and cups and saucers (always coloured blue and white) invariably depicts a Chinese scene with temple and trees and birds and fences, and three figures crossing a bridge. Also there is always at least one tree with slender waving branches adorned with small leaves. If you can compare a living ginkgo with this you will readily see a resemblance in the structure. You should bear this in mind whenever you embroider a willow-pat-tern design on a linen cloth. When in full leafage the ginkgo is a truly beautiful sight, owing to the brightness of the green colour of the foliage and the characteristic waved and rather pendulous branches. The leaves, which are distinct in form from any other, are shaped like large maidenhair fern leaves, each having a stalk two or three inches long. This resemblance gives rise to the name, maidenhair tree. In autumn the leaves change colour, and during winter the structure of the tree and its similarity lo that in the design may be readily seen.

The Ginkgo biloba is probably the most Interesting of all deciduous trees, partly because of its great antiquity; as it has been found in a fossilised state, it is believed to belong to the dimmest of past ages. It is interesting to know that it was introduced into England as long ago as 1754. Fortunately for us in this country, several ginkgos were planted here in Christchurch many years ago by_ people who saw further than their own generation. As the tree takes a long period to develop, we would otherwise have had no opportunity of becoming acquainted with a mature ginkgo. A fine example may be seen growing in a garden near the Edmonds clock tower. Besides

this particularly beautiful specimen, there are other younger trees which may be noticed. • There is one in the shrubbery on the way to the rose garden, and there are also two m the garden at the Technical College hostel at Opawa. These latter have yet to develop the characteristic branching system.' In years to come you may even see them in fruit, as the ginkgo does not bear fruit until it is more than 50 years old. There are, how’ever, distinct male and • female ginkgos, only the latter fruiting, so you might look in vain evein a 100 years hence.