The “Frankenstein Tree”, also known as the “tree of 40 fruits“, is an innovative artistic and scientific expression focused on environmental conservation and awareness about the loss of the diversity of consumed fruits.
The brain behind this creation is Sam Van Aken, an arts professor at Syracuse University, located in the state of New York. His goal in conceiving such a work was to transcend the limits of art, agriculture and conservation.
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Although this remarkable tree does not have a proper name, it is commonly referred to as the “tree of 40 fruits.” The choice of the number 40 was not random, but rather a reference to the concept of multitude found in Western religions.
(Image: Reproduction/Internet)
This reflects one of the main purposes of Van Aken's project: to draw attention to the loss of diversity in the foods we are part of.
Van Aken explains that a century ago, in U.S, more than 2 thousand varieties of peaches, almost 2 thousand types of plums and around 800 species of apples were cultivated.
However, most of this rich biodiversity has been lost due to industrialization of agriculture, disease and climate change.
The magic behind the “Frankenstein Tree” lies in the ancient technique of grafting. Each fruit tree was transformed into a single species, allowing multiple grafts that allow different varieties of fruit to share the same trunk.
This process is a journey that spans several years, including a year to verify the success of each graft, two or three until the tree begin to produce fruit, and sometimes it takes up to eight years for a complete tree, with 40 distinct types of fruit, to develop.
The trees created by Van Aken belong to the genus Prunus, which encompasses several species, such as peach trees, plum trees, cherry trees and apricot trees, each with hundreds or thousands of varieties.
For most of the year, these trees look like any other, but in spring they bloom in shades of white and pink. The ultimate wonder comes in summer, when the flowers give way to 40 distinct varieties of peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines and apricots.
Finally, the “Frankenstein Tree” is, therefore, a tribute to the biodiversity of fruits and a unique expression that unites art, science and environmental conservation.
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