Peru’s State Secrets
Tree Peru’s countrywide tree is the cinchona, and if you’ve heard of it before then it’s likely because the bark of this tree is used to create quinine. Quinine is used as a muscle relaxant, but is perhaps best known for being one of the main ingredients of tonic water and thus responsible for that bitter taste that you get in a gin and tonic. The ingredient is also the reason that gin and tonic glows in the dark under a black light. You’ll find that cinchona trees are fairly easy to location when trekking Peru as they have distinct white, pink or red blossoms that are almost tubular in appearance. Peru’s national animal Llamas are synonymous with Peru so most people wrongly assume that the llama is in fact the country’s national animal.
However, Peru’s countrywide animal is actually the vicuna, which is very llama-like in appearance. The creature is believed to be the wild ancestor of today’s domesticated alpacas and even features on the Peruvian coat of arms. Like alpacas, which are bred for their coats, the hair of the vicuna is widely sought after, particularly as the animal can only be shorn every three years. During the Incan civilization, the coat of the vicuna was so revered that only Incan royalty were allowed to wear garments made from the hair. Vicuna can be found all over South America, but when trekking Peru’s Andes you’ll see the highest population of these animals. Peru’s national FlowerPeru’s national floral is the cantuta, a red tubular flower often found in the highlands of the Andes or the Yungas. The floral is also the countrywide flower of Bolivia as it reflects the colours of the national flag.
There is an Incan tale associated with the cantuta that tells the tale of two prosperous kings both annoyed at the money of the other. At some point these two nobleman attacked each other and both grew to be mortally wounded in the fight. The two nobleman inquired their sons to seek vengeance on one yet another after their death and the family members feud continued. Once again a bloody combat ensued and, like their fathers, both sons grew to become mortally wounded. However, on their death-beds they generously forgave each other and inquired that their servants location them side by side on the green grass of the battlefield.
The tale persists that the Goddess of fertility looked beside the two kings and told them that they shouldn’t have suffered from their father’s unjustified enmity. To discipline their fathers, two stars fell from the sky and grew to be the highest peaks in Andes and the cantuta bloomed as a token of the people’s unity, bearing the colour of the two kings (red and yellow), with natural standing for hope.Peru’s countrywide BirdWhen jogging Peru why not try a place of ornithology too? Peru’s national bird is the brightly shaded and joyfully named, cock-of-the-rock. The bird has a beautiful head-dress of presented orange and red feathers that are similar of the fringes that the Incas used to wear as a badge of rank. The birds are found in tropical and sub-tropical forests close to rugged areas, where they ordinarily build their nests.
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