Calocedrus macrolepis

Branch with scale-like leaves

Calocedrus macrolepis is a species of the genus of incense cedars ( Calocedrus ). It is native to southern up southeastern Asia.

Description

Calocedrus macrolepis grows as evergreen tree of stature heights of 15 to 25, can reach in exceptional cases up to 40 meters and diameter at breast height of 60 to 150 centimeters. The crown is made of thick branches that come off almost straight from the tree. It is pyramidal in young trees and with age - wide roundish. The straight tribal branches often when the tree reaches heights of growth of over 10 meters. The grayish - brown to reddish- brown bark is smooth in young trees. In older trees the bark is fissured lengthwise and peel off.

At the branches nodes are clearly visible; at these nodes are two large and two smaller alternate leaves. The scale-like leaves are 1.5 to 8 millimeters long.

The flowering period extends from March to April. The yellow male cones are ovoid molded at a length of 4 to 8 mm and a diameter of 2 to 3 millimeters to elongate. They contain three to five Mikrosporophylle pollen sacs. Female pins are oval in shape with a length of 1 to 2 cm and a diameter of 4 to 6 millimeters. The mature in September to December cones are reddish brown in color and open it in three parts with the middle part bears the two winged seeds. The seeds are almost ovoid shaped with a length of 5 to 6 mm to elliptical.

Occurrence

The natural range of Calocedrus macrolepis ranges from northern India over Laos, northeastern Myanmar and northeastern Thailand to the southeast China, as well as areas in Vietnam. In China they are found in the provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan and Yunnan. Whether Calocedrus macrolepis occurs in Guangdong Province is controversial. In Vietnam, they are found on a mountain in the province of Ha Tay, in the province of Khánh Hòa and surrounding areas in the city of Đà Lạt.

Calocedrus macrolepis thrives in humid climates and high altitudes of 300 to 2000 meters. It grows on soils that form on limestone or granite. At altitudes of more than 900 meters Calocedrus macrolepis grows in closed or open, evergreen forests.

System

The first description as Calocedrus macrolepis in 1873 by Wilhelm Sulpiz short in Journal of Botany, British and Foreign, 11 ( 127), p 196, Plate 133, figure 3 synonyms for Calocedrus macrolepis short inter alia Heyderia macrolepis (short ) HLLi, Libocedrus macrolepis (short ) Benth. and Thuja macrolepis (short ) Voss.

Use

The fine- grained wood of Calocedrus macrolepis is easy to machine and is resistant to Termitenfrass. It is primarily used as a construction and carpentry of wood, as well as for turning work use. Since it is exuding an aromatic fragrance also processed into incense.

Due to the beautiful habit Calocedrus macrolepis is occasionally planted as an ornamental tree.

Threats and conservation

Calocedrus macrolepis is in the IUCN Red List as "vulnerable" out. It is noted, however, that a re-evaluation of risks is required. As Hauptgefährungsgründe the strong logging and the replacement of forests by agriculture apply.

Swell

• Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not in ISO format Christopher J. Earle: Calocedrus macrolepis. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, December 12, accessed 20 August 2011 (English).
• Liguo Fu Yong -fu Yu, Robert P. Adams & Aljos Farjon: Cupressaceae. Calocedrus. In: Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan (eds.): Flora of China. Cycadaceae through Fagaceae. Volume 4, Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis in 1999, ISBN 9780915279708, Calocedrus macrolepis, p 65 ( Calocedrus macrolepis - Online).