Cryptomeria japonica description

Shoot with pollen cones, 9 cm long [C.J. Earle].

Natural forest of Cryptomeria japonica in Akita (5).

Cryptomeria japonica (Linnaeus) D.Don

Common Names

SUGI (Japanese) (1), Japanese cedar (3).

Taxonomic notes

Syn: C. mairei (Leveille) Nakai; C. kawaii Hayata (4). Some authors include C. fortunei in this species.

Description

"A monoecious tree, up to 50 (65) m high and up to 3 m in diameter. Trunk straight and slender. Crown dense and conical. Shoots green, glabrous. Needles sickle-shaped, rather tough, 6-12 mm long, acuminate, pale green, with stomata on both surfaces. Female flowers appear in autumn, and fertilization occurs in spring after pollination; male flowers about 6 mm long; in the native habitat flowers appear from January to March, and in Europe later. Cones solitary, globose, 1.5-2.5 cm across, brown, maturing from July to September. Seed dark brown, three-sided, 5-8 mm long. Cotyledons linear and up to 2 cm in length; the tree usually begins to bear seeds between its 15th and 20th year" (4).

Range

Japan & Taiwan. In Japan it occurs naturally in pure and mixed stands from Kyushu to N Honshu at elevations to 400 m (4).

In Taiwan, the distribution includes Xinchu Xian: Sheipa National Park; Ilan Xian: Yuanyanghu Nature Preserve; Nantou Xian: Xitou Forest Recreation Area; Xinchu Xian: Yuanyanghu Natural Preserved Area; at elevations of 900-2500 m in plantations and in association with Tsuga, Pinus and Fagaceae species (2).

Big Tree

Oldest

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Widely cultivated as an ornamental. In Japan, sugi and HINOKI (Chamaecyparis obtusa) are the most economically important timber species. Sugi has long been valued for the beauty of both the tree and wood and is widely planted around temples.

Observations

"One of the most impressive forests in the world is the 250-year old stand of C. japonica at Nikko, where trees attain 65 m in height and up to 2 m in diameter" (4). Taiwan's Shei-Pa National Park also looks like an interesting place to see it.

Remarks

Citations

(1) Silba 1986.
(2) Botanical Inventory Of Taiwan.
(3) Watson, F.D. & J.E. Eckenwalder at the Flora of North America web page.
(4) Vidakovic 1991.
(5) Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI). Apr-1996 (accessed 12-Oct-1998). Introduction to Forestry And Forest Products Research Institute. URL: http://ss.ffpri.affrc.go.jp/outline.html.