Nageia nagi
| Nageia nagi | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Araucariales |
| Family: | Podocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Nageia |
| Species: | N. nagi
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| Binomial name | |
| Nageia nagi (Thunb.) Kuntze
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| Synonyms | |
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Myrica nagi Thunb. | |
Nageia nagi, the Asian bayberry, is plant species in the family Podocarpaceae named by Carl Peter Thunberg. Nageia nagi is native to China, Japan, and Taiwan.[2]
It is a hardy tree species, which means that it can withstand a range of weather conditions, but it prefers moist sites that are well drained and with full sunlight to light shade. Being from the Podocarpaceae family, Nageia nagi is a dioecious tree. Dioecious is when the male and female parts of the trees are on separate plants.[2] The pollen cones are catkins and the female cones, which mature in one year, are reduced fleshy bracts that contains a single inverted ovule. It requires the wind for pollination, it cannot self-pollinate.[3]
Nageia nagi range in height from fifteen to twenty meters tall and it is relatively slow growing.[4] The leaves are lanceolate in shape, they are arranged sub opposite on the branches. Leaves range from two to eight inches long and 0.75 to 2.5 inches wide and lack a mid-vein. The new leaves are a light green and as they age they become dark green and glossy. The branches also start out as green but as they age they become reddish brown and peel in small layers.[2]
Houses, bridges, utensils, handiwork and furniture are constructed from the wood of this species and the seeds yield an oil that is edible and valued in industry.[5] Young leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten.[6]
Nageia nagi can be propagated by cuttings or by seed. It is best to plant the seed in a warm greenhouse and sandy soil. For their permanent position, they should be planted in late spring or early summer after the last frost.[6]
The species is threatened by habitat loss.
Formerly called Myrica nagi, its bark exhibits strong antibacterial effect.(2)
See also
References
- ^ Nageia nagi
- ^ a b c "Nageia nagi - Asian Bayberry". Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ "Podocarpaceae". The gymnosperm database. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ "Nageia nagi/Asian Bayberry". OnlinePlantGuide. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ "Flora of China". FOC Vol. 4 Page 80. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Nageia nagi - (Thunb.)Kuntze". Plants For A Future, 1996-2010. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
References
- Conifer Specialist Group 1998. Nageia nagi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
- Bin Shan, Yi-Zhong Cai, John D. Brooks, Harold Corke, The in vitro antibacterial activity of dietary spice and medicinal herb extracts,International Journal of Food Microbiology 117 (2007) 112–119
External links
- Parmar, C. and M.K. Kaushal. 1982. Myrica nagi. p. 49–53. 13 Myrica nagi Thunb. In: Wild Fruits. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India.
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