| Cunninghamia | |
|---|---|
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| Cunninghamia lanceolata | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Cupressales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cunninghamioideae (Zucc. ex Endl.) Quinn |
| Genus: | Cunninghamia R.Br. ex Richard & Richard |
| Type species | |
| Cunninghamia sinensis R.Br. ex Richard & Richard | |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Cunninghamia is a genus of one[2] or two living species ofevergreenconiferoustrees in the cypress familyCupressaceae.[3] They are native to China, northern Vietnam and Laos, and perhaps also Cambodia.[2] They may reach 70 m (230 ft) in height.[2] In vernacular use, it is most often known asCunninghamia, but is also sometimes called "China-fir" (though it is not afir). The genus nameCunninghamia honours Dr. James Cunningham, aBritish doctor who introduced this species intocultivation in 1702 and botanistAllan Cunningham.[4]
The general shape of the tree is conical with tiered,[5] horizontalbranches that are often somewhat pendulous toward the tips.Cunninghamia bears softly spined, leathery, stiff, green to blue-green needle-likeleaves that spiral around thestem with an upward arch; they are 2–7cm long and 3–5mm broad at the base, and bear two white or greenish whitestomatal bands underneath and sometimes also above. The foliage may turn bronze-tinted in very cold winter weather.
Thecones are small and inconspicuous atpollination in late winter, the pollen cones in clusters of 10–30 together, the female cones singly or 2–3 together.[6]
The seed cones mature in 7–8 months to 2.5–4.5cm long, ovoid to globose, with spirally arranged scales; each scale bears 3–5seeds. They are often proliferous (with a vegetative shoot growing on beyond the tip of the cone) on cultivated trees; this is rare in wild trees, and may be acultivar selected for easy vegetative propagation for use inforestryplantations.
As the tree grows its trunk tends tosucker around the base, particularly following damage to the stem or roots, and it then may grow in a multi-trunked form. Brownbark of mature trees peels off in strips to reveal reddish-brown inner bark. Older specimens often look ragged, as the old needles may cling to stems for up to 5 years.
Although it resembles conifer species found in much colder climates, the tree is highly tolerant of heat and can be found growing down to sea level in regions such as Hong Kong.
It is the mostbasal extant member of the Cupressaceae. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that its lineage diverged from the rest of the family during the earlyJurassic.[7] Fossil representatives of the subfamily Cunninghamioideae, of whichCunninghamia is the only living member, extend back to the Middle Jurassic. The subfamily, which has 12 described genera, experienced a high diversity during the Cretaceous, but underwent a severe decline at the end of the Cretaceous, leavingCunninghamia as the only living genus by the beginning of the Cenozoic.[8]
In the past, the genus was usually treated in the familyTaxodiaceae,[2] but this family is now included within the Cupressaceae.[3] A few botanists have also treated it in a family of its own, Cunninghamiaceae, but this is not widely followed.[9] The oldest fossil species of the genus are from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of North America, includingCunninghamia hornbyensis from British Columbia, Canada,[10] andCunninghamia taylorii from theHorseshoe Canyon Formation of Alberta, Canada.[11] Other fossils are known from theCenozoic of Asia, North America and Europe.[8][12]
The genus is traditionally said to contain two similar species,Cunninghamia lanceolata andC. konishii, often referred to as the China fir and Taiwan fir, respectively.C. lanceolata occurs in mainlandChina,Vietnam, andLaos, whereasC. konishii is restricted toTaiwan.[13] However, molecular genetic evidence is suggesting that they are the same species, and thatC. konishii of Taiwan derive from multiple colonizations from the mainland.[14][15] AsC. lanceolata was the first name published, this name takes priority if the two are combined. In that case, Taiwan fir becomesCunninghamia lanceolata var.konishii. However, there is no consensus yet as to whether the two species should be combined.[13]
Cunninghamia is a prizedtimber tree in China, producing soft, highly durable scentedwood similar to that ofCoast Redwood andSugi. It is used in particular for manufacture ofcoffins and intemple building where the scent is valued.[citation needed]
Cunninghamia is grown as an ornamental tree inparks and largegardens, where it typically reaches a height of 15–30 m.[citation needed] Due to its heat tolerance, it has been used as aChristmas tree in subtropical areas such as thesouthern USA.
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