Pigeon tree (conifer)

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Pigeon tree
Cathaya argyrophylla

Cathaya argyrophylla

Systematics
Class : Coniferopsida
Order : Conifers (Coniferales)
Family : Pine family (Pinaceae)
Subfamily : Laricoideae
Genre : Cathaya
Type : Pigeon tree
Scientific name of the  genus
Cathaya
Chun & Kuang
Scientific name of the  species
Cathaya argyrophylla
Chun & Kuang

The pigeon tree ( Cathaya argyrophylla ) is the only plant species in the monotypic genus Cathaya . The generic name is derived from the old name " Cathay " for China . This taxon can be classified in the subfamily of the Laricoideae within the pine family (Pinaceae).

Occurrence

The pigeon tree is endemic in China from the southeastern province of Sichuan to the southern province of Hunan and is rare. It occurs there in low mountain ranges between 1400 and 1800 meters.

The discovery of this species in 1955 was a similar sensation as the discovery of Metasequoia glyptostroboides in 1945, Wollemia nobilis in 1994 and Xanthocyparis vietnamensis in 2001. The pigeon tree counts together with several other plant species such as the primeval sequoia ( Metasequoia glyptostroboides ), the ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba ) and five species from the Ephedraceae family to a whole group of living fossils found in the same province of China . These plant species still occurring today represent a relic flora .

Fossils of the genus Cathaya have been found 10 to 30 million years old . In the Tertiary , plant species of the genus were common in large parts of Asia and Europe .

description

The pigeon tree is an evergreen tree that reaches heights of growth of 20 meters and a trunk diameter (DBH) of 40 cm centimeters. The appearance of the upright tree is reminiscent of the genus Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga ), into which it was previously classified. The main branches grow horizontally outwards from the trunk. The bark is dark gray on mature trees . The bark of the twigs is initially yellow-brown and initially hairy gray-yellow, later it becomes dark yellow and smooth. The buds are light yellow-brown. As in all pine trees, the photosynthetic leaves are shaped like needles. The needles are 2.5 to 5 cm long.

The pigeon tree is single sexed ( monoecious ), so there are female and male cones on a tree. One to three male cones are axially together on the branch. The female cones are green at first and dark brown when ripe; they are 3 to 5 cm in length and 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter and fall off after the seeds have been poured out. The dark green seed, colored with light green spots, is 5 to 6 mm long and 3 to 4 mm wide, its yellow-brown wings 1 to 1.5 cm × 4 to 6 mm in size.

The seedlings have (three to four cotyledons cotyledons ).

Systematics

The original first description by Woonyong Chun and Kuang Keren appeared in 1958, but was invalid for formal reasons, as two species were described at the same time and the type species was not specified. The ultimately valid first description by Chun & Kuang was published in 1962 in Acta Botanica Sinica , 10 (3), p. 246. The following synonyms are known:

  • Pseudotsuga argyrophylla (Chun & Kuang) Greguss
  • Tsuga argyrophylla (Chun & Kuang) de Laubenfels & Silba
  • Cathaya nanchuanensis Chun & Kuang (These individuals were viewed as a separate species, but they only differ slightly from other plants of the species due to environmental influences).

Notice

The handkerchief tree ( Davidia involucrata ) is also often referred to as a pigeon tree.

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Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Cathaya. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  2. ↑ Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad), 43, 1958, p. 464.
  3. ↑ Chun & Kuang: Acta Botanica Sinica , 10 (3), 1962, p. 246.

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