Introduction to the Encyclopedia of seedlings-- Xizang Taxus

Latin name: TaxuswallichianaZucc.

English name: Himalayan yew

Latin family name Taxaceae

Chinese family name Taxaceae

Latin generic name Enpcontent

Chinese generic name Taxus

National Ⅰ key protected Wild Plant (approved by the State Council on Aug. 4,1999) Xizang Taxus, also known as Himalayan Taxus, is one of the four species and one variety of Taxus mairei in China, and is endemic to Xizang. The other 3 species and 1 variety are Taxus yunnanensis, Taxus cuspidata, Taxus chinensis and Taxus chinensis var. mairei.

Morphological characteristics

Evergreen small trees or shrubs, with spreading or upward spreading branches; bark reddish brown, divided into thin slices; branchlets irregularly alternate, light green, later becoming pale brown or reddish brown; winter buds ovoid, bud scales imbricate, basal bud scales usually triangular-ovate, apex acute, abaxially slightly ridged, deciduous or a few persistent at base of branchlets. Leaves spirally inserted, irregularly distichous, linear. Usually straight, Kl.5-3.5cm, ca. 2.5mm wide, apex with a raised acute tip, light green above, midrib elevated, below with yellowish stomatal bands twice as wide as green edges; shortly stipitate. Dioecious, globose solitary leaf axils; male cones globose, with numerous spirally arranged stamens, shortly pedicellate; female flowers almost sessile, apically bearing 1 ovule with discoid hypanthium, base surrounded by several imbricate bracts. Seeds mature, nutlike, columnar-oblong, born in fleshy, red, cup-shaped aril, ca. 6.5 mm in length, 4.5 in diam. 5 mm in diameter, slightly flattened, with obtuse ridges on both sides, apex mucronate, navel elliptic.

Biological characteristics

The climate of the distribution area is warm in summer and cool in winter, with snow cover in winter, the average annual temperature is about 10 ℃, the highest temperature is 16-18 ℃, the lowest temperature is 0 ℃, the annual precipitation society is 800-1000 mm, and the annual average relative humidity is 50-60%. It is cold-tolerant and shade-tolerant. During the growing period, it is required to have enough temperature, and most of them are born in the forests in the wetter areas of river valleys and gullies. The main community tree species are Pinus Eichler, P. roxburghi Sarg., Tsugadumosa (D.Don) McClelland and QuercussemicarpifoliaSmith. The flowering period is May and the seeds mature from September to October.

Reproduce with seeds. The dormancy period of seed embryo is long, and after seed collection, it must be stored in wet sand at low temperature, sow in spring, and the germination period can be extended to the second year. It can also be propagated by cutting.

Economic use

Xizang yew is the smallest species with the smallest distribution area and the smallest resource reserves in China, but the resources are basically undamaged. Mainly used in medicine, ornamental, scientific research and so on.