| Chamaecyparis formosensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Cupressales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Genus: | Chamaecyparis |
| Species: | C. formosensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Chamaecyparis formosensis | |
Chamaecyparis formosensis (Formosan cypress,Taiwan cypress,Taiwan red cypress;[1]Chinese: 紅檜/红桧hóngguì, Taiwan pron. hóngkuài) is a species ofChamaecyparis,endemic toTaiwan, where it grows in the central mountains at moderate to high altitudes of 1000–2900 m. It is threatened byhabitat loss and over-cutting for its valuable timber.[1][2][3]
It is a slow-growing, but long-lived and ultimately large to very largeconiferoustree growing to 55–60 m tall with a trunk up to 7 m in diameter. Thebark is red-brown, vertically fissured and with a stringy texture. The foliage is arranged in flat sprays; adultleaves are scale-like, 1–3 mm long, with pointed tips, green both above and below with only an inconspicuousstomatal band at the base of each scale-leaf; they are arranged in opposite decussate pairs on the shoots. The juvenile leaves, found on young seedlings, are needle-like, 4–8 mm long, soft and glaucous bluish-green. Thecones are ovoid-oblong, 6–12 mm long and 4–8 mm diameter, with 8–16 scales arranged in opposite pairs, maturing in autumn about 7–8 months after pollination.[2]
_1_Chamaecyparis_formosensis.jpg)
It is most closely related to the JapaneseChamaecyparis pisifera (sawara cypress), which differs in smaller globose cones 4–8 mm long with 6–10 scales.[2]
Thewood is soft, very resistant to decay, and strongly scented; it is highly valued in traditional Taiwanese building, particularly fortemples andshrines. This has led to excessive harvesting, resulting in the species now being endangered. A small number of the oldest and largest specimens are protected as national monuments, but much of the general population of the species still remains unprotected.[2]
Essential oil distilled from its wood is uniquely scented and highly valued.[4]
The Sacred Tree of Alishan was a 3,000-year-old Taiwan red cypress which died from a lightning strike in 1956. The trunk remained standing until 1998. Due to its sacred status it was left alone by the Japanese when they deforested the surrounding area.[5]
Authority control databases: National |
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