Sciadopitys
Sciadopitys Temporal range: 230β0 Ma | |
---|---|
Sciadopitys verticillata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Pinales |
Family: | Sciadopityaceae Luerss. |
Genus: | Sciadopitys Siebold & Zucc. |
Species: | S. verticillata |
Binomial name | |
Sciadopitys verticillata (Thunb.) Siebold & Zucc. | |
Synonyms | |
|
Sciadopitys verticillata, koyamaki, or Japanese umbrella-pine, is a unique conifer endemic to Japan. It is the sole member of the family Sciadopityaceae and genus Sciadopitys, a living fossil with no close relatives, and known in the fossil record for about 230 million years.
Its genus name comes from the Greek prefix sciado- meaning "shadow" and pitys, meaning "pine"; the specific epithet means "with whorls".
It is an evergreen tree that can grow 15β27 m tall, with brown main shoots bearing whorls of 7β12 cm long flexible green cladodes that look like, and perform the function of, leaves but are actually composed of stem tissues; occasionally, a cladode will be forked and produce a bud in the 'v' of the fork. The cones are 6β11 cm long, mature in about 18 months, and have flattish scales that open to release the seeds.
It is a very attractive tree and is popular in gardens, despite its slow growth rate.
Koyamaki was chosen as the Japanese Imperial crest for Prince Hisahito of Akishino, currently third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The plant was first introduced to Europe by John Gould Veitch in September 1860.[1]
Infrared microspectroscopy has identified conifers of the family Sciadopityaceae as the principal source of Baltic amber rather than as previously thought members of the families Araucariaceae and Pinaceae.[2]
References
- β James Herbert Veitch (2006). Hortus Veitchii (reprint ed.). Caradoc Doy. pp. 51β52. ISBN 0-9553515-0-2.
- β Wolfe AP, Tappert R, Muehlenbachs K, Boudreau M, McKellar RC, Basinger JF, Garrett A. (2009). A new proposal concerning the botanical origin of Baltic amber. Proc Biol Sci. 276(1672):3403-12. doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0806 PMID 19570786
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sciadopitys verticillata. |
- Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Sciadopitys verticillata. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
- Arboretum de Villardebelle Photos: foliage, immature cones
- Arboretum de Villardebelle Photo: mature cone
- Conifers of UBC
- Gymnosperm Database
- Photos of plant habit
- Images: Cone,Leaf,Seeds Flavon's Wild herb and Alpine plants