Cathaya argyrophylla description

Chinese stamp honoring C. argyrophylla (4).

Cathaya argyrophylla Chun et Kuang 1955

Common Names

Taxonomic notes

The sole species in Cathaya Chun et Kuang.

Syn: Pseudotsuga argyrophylla; Tsuga argyrophylla (3); C. nanchuensis Chun et Kuang. C. nanchuensis is "now considered to be an ecotype of C. argyrophylla rather than a separate species" (1).

Description

Tree: Monoecious, evergreen, medium tall (1).
Bark: Gray, furrowed and scaly (1).
Branches: Horizontal (1).
Shoots: Two kins, long and short (1).
Leaves: Acicular, spirally arranged on long shoots and on short shoots dense, almost in whorls, with an indistinct petiole. Dark green above and light green below, with 2 silvery-white stomatal bands and 2 subepidermal resin ducts. Juvenile leaves ciliate on the margin and pubescent on the upper surface. Buds not resinous. Cotyledons 3-4 (1).
Cones: Attached by a short peduncle or almost sessile on short lateral shoots, do not disintegrate, initially erect, later at an angle, persisting for several years (1).
Cone scales: Fertile scales rounded with 2 seeds; bract scales long and pointed (1).
Pollen cones: Ovate-oblong on short lateral shoots. Pollen grains with 2 wings (1).
Seeds: Obovate with a short, broad wing (1).
Wood:
Similar species:

Range

China: SE Sichuan, NE Guizhou, SW Henan, NE Guangxi, 1400-1800 m (1, 3). The nanchuensis populations occur in Yunnan, mostly in the Kunming area and SE (2).

Big Tree

Oldest

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

Citations

(1) Vidakovic 1991.
(2) Vladimir Dinets, e-mail communication, 2-Jan-1998.
(3) Silba 1986.
(4) Stamp designed by Zeng Xiaolian and issued 10-Mar-1992. Image available at http://www.bupt.edu.cn/stamp/plant/92_3.htm, accessed 12-Apr-1999.