Saxegothaea
Patagonian Yew ( Saxegothaea conspicua )
The Patagonian Yew ( Saxegothaea conspicua, Syn. Squamataxus albertiana J.Nels ) is the only species of the genus Saxegothaea from the family of Podocarpus plants ( Podocarpaceae ) in the coniferous plant ( Pinophyta ). Both the botanical genus name and the English common name "Prince Albert's Yew " honors Prince Albert of Saxe -Coburg and Gotha ( 1819-1861 ).
Dissemination
The Patagonian yew is in southern South America ( southern Chile in the coastal mountains and Argentina) at home. It thrives in medium altitude up to the timber line between 500 and 2000 meters.
In Central Europe it is not hardy, so it is probably to be found only in botanical gardens. However, In the British Isles it is sufficiently hardy and there is sometimes planted in gardens.
Description
The Patagonian yew is a slow- growing evergreen tree which reaches heights of growth 15 to 25 meters. It forms a slender cone-shaped canopy, often grows but also wide and bushy. The branches are inclined and the branches hang down. The bark is smooth and reddish to purplish brown; at the age she is peeling off in large thin flakes, which remain on the trunk pink spots. The hanging young branches are heaped at the ends of the branches; their bark is green in the first 3 to 4 years. The leaves are 1.5 to 2.5 cm long and 2 mm wide. The leaves on fresh shoots are tinted slightly purple. Later, the leaves are dark green, hard and curved. They are sharply pointed and are pretty tight. On the underside of each leaf has two white bands; Midrib and edge are apple green. The crushed leaves smell like grass.
The male flowers are 1 mm small, ovoid and dark purple; they are leaf axils on the branches to 10 to 20. The female cones are terminal on short shoots and resemble first a small pin; later, a small rosette forming outwardly curved fleshy cone scales that look floured blue gray; the entire pin is about 0.5 times 1 cm in size.
Pictures
Saxegothea conspicua:
Swell
- Characteristics on www.chileflora.com. ( German )