Pseudotaxus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iPseudotaxus chienii

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Taxaceae
Genus:	Pseudotaxus
Species:	P. chienii

Binomial name

Pseudotaxus chienii
(W.C.Cheng) W.C.Cheng

Pseudotaxus chienii, the White-berry Yew, is a species of yew, the sole species in the genus Pseudotaxus, but closely related to the other yews in the genus Taxus. It is endemic to southern China, occurring in northern Guangdong, northern Guangxi, Hunan, southwest Jiangxi and southern Zhejiang.

Like other yews, it is a small coniferous shrub or small tree, reaching 2-5 m tall with reddish bark. The leaves are lanceolate, flat, 1-2.6 cm long and 2-3 mm broad, dark green above, with two white stomatal bands below; they are arranged spirally on the stem, but with the leaf bases twisted to align the leaves in two flat rows either side of the stem. The conspicuous white stomatal bands on the harder, stiffer (less soft) leaves readily distinguish it from the yews in the genus Taxus.

It is dioecious, with the male and female cones on different trees. The female (seed) cones are very similar to those of Taxus species, but the aril is white when mature, not red; they are 5-7 mm long and wide. The male (pollen) cones are globose, 3-4 mm diameter.

It is grown as an ornamental plant in southern China and occasionally elsewhere.

[edit] References

Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Pseudotaxus chienii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Listed as Endangered (EN A1c v2.3)