Calocedrus formosana

Calocedrus formosana

Calocedrus formosana is a species of the genus of incense cedars ( Calocedrus ). It is a highly endangered endemic species in the northern and central part of the island of Taiwan.

Description

Calocedrus formosana grows as a evergreen tree that can reach heights of growth of up to 23 meters. The trunk often grows curved and the smooth bark is colored purple - maroon.

The decussate, usually four of us arranged in whorls leaves are dimorphic along the branches, so there are two different leaf shapes. The vertical pair of leaves is flattened and the lateral pair of leaves is boat-shaped. The 1.5 to 2.5 millimeter, scale-like leaves have a run-down on the branch base and a blunt upper end. The upper leaf surface dark - green and the lower leaf surface colored pale green.

Elongated at a length of 1 to 1.5 centimeters pins are easily bent. They contain four cone scales, which carry two no seeds. The other two cone scales each bear one or two, 8-12 mm wide, winged seeds.

The chromosome number is 2n = 22

Occurrence

The natural range of Calocedrus formosana includes the north and the center of Taiwan.

Calocedrus formosana thrives at altitudes 33-1900 meters. It grows mainly in evergreen and mixed in cloud forests.

Use

Calocedrus formosana finds among other things use as firewood.

System

The first description was in 1930 as Libocedrus formosana by Carl Rudolf Florin in Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift 24 126, p 2 1956 led Carl Rudolf Florin this species in taxon, Volume 5 ( 8), p 192 in the genre of incense cedars ( Calocedrus ). Other synonyms for Calocedrus formosana ( Florin ) Florin include Calocedrus macrolepis var formosana ( Florin ) WCCheng & LKFu, Heyderia formosana ( Florin ) HLLi and Libocedrus macrolepis var formosana ( Florin ) Kudo.

Threats and conservation

Calocedrus formosana is " critically endangered " on the Red List of IUCN. It is noted, however, that a re-evaluation of risks is required. The main hazard reasons of logging and conversion of forests to forestry operations are called.

Swell

• Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not in ISO format Christopher J. Earle: Calocedrus formosana. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, December 12, accessed 22 July 2011 (English).