The World’s Largest Cashew Tree世界上最大的腰果树
The Pirangi Cashew Tree in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Norte is considered the world’s largest cashew tree. It has a circumference of around 500 meters and covers an area of 8,400 square meters. Legend has it that the Pirangi Cashew Tree was planted in 1888 by a local fisherman who later died at the age of 93 under the shade of the tremendous tree.
位于巴西北里约格朗德的皮兰吉腰果树,被认为是世界上最大的腰果树。其周长大约为500米,冠幅达8400平方米。据传,皮兰吉腰果树是当地一位渔民在1888年种下的,他最终在这棵参天大树的树荫下辞世,享年93岁。
Experts believe that, based on its growth characteristics, the tree is estimated to be more than a thousand years old. One thing is for sure, this is no ordinary cashew tree. It is the size of 70 normally sized cashew trees and produces over 60,000 cashew fruits per year and actually has to be seen from a special lookout point high above to be truly appreciated.
专家们根据其生长特性估计,这棵树的树龄可能超过一千年。可以确定的是,这不是一棵普通的腰果树。它的大小相当于70棵普通腰果树的总和。它每年能产六万多个腰果。要想真正欣赏其壮丽,必须从高处的特设观景台看。
But just how did the world’s largest cashew tree get so big? Well, apparently, it has to do with a genetic anomaly that causes its branches to grow sideways rather than upwards. Weight and gravity cause the branches to bend toward the ground, and as they make contact with the soil, new roots begin to form and the tree continues to expand. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to distinguish the initial trunk from the rest of the tree.
这棵世界上最大的腰果树是怎样长得这么巨大的呢?嗯,这似乎是由于一种基因突变导致它的枝条横向生长而非向上。由于重量和重力的作用,树枝会向地面弯曲,接触到土壤后,新的根系便开始生长,使得树木持续扩展。如今,已难以辨认出最初的树干与树的其余部分。
The Pirangi Cashew Tree became one of the main local tourist attractions after the tree was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest cashew tree. According to the Institute of Sustainable Development and Environment, which manages the famous Pirangi Cashew Tree, around 300,000 tourists visit the tree every year.
皮兰吉腰果树在被吉尼斯世界纪录认证为世界上最大腰果树后,迅速成为当地的主要旅游景点之一。据负责管理著名的皮兰吉腰果树的可持续发展与环境研究所透露,该树每年吸引约30万名游客前来参观。
Interestingly, the Pirangi Cashew Tree has some home soil competition for the title of the world’s largest cashew tree. According to the state secretary of Tourism of Piauí, a cashew tree on the coast of Piauí is actually the world’s largest, covering an area of around 8,800 square meters. However, that claim has yet to be officially verified by Guinness.
有趣的是,皮兰吉腰果树在竞争世界最大腰果树的称号时,也面临着来自国内的竞争。皮奥伊州旅游部的州秘书表示,皮奥伊州海岸有一棵腰果树是世界上最大的,冠幅可达约8800平方米。然而,这种说法还没有得到吉尼斯官方的认证。
Word Bank
tremendous /trə'mendəs/ adj. 巨大的
anomaly /ə'nɒməli/ n. 异常,反常
verify /'verɪfaɪ/ v. 核实;判定