Chamaecyparis formosensis

Matsum. 1901

Common Names

• Formosan cypress (Dallimore et al. 1967);
• Formosan false cypress (Vidakovic 1991);
• Taiwan cypress (Welch and Haddow 1993);
• 紅檜 (hong2 kuai4, "red cypress") (Chinese) (L. Angot email 2009.04.21); and
• 薄皮 (bo2 pi2, "thin skin") (Chinese) (L. Angot email 2009.04.21).

Taxonomic notes

Syn. Cupressus formosensis (Matsum.) A. Henry 1910. Closely allied to Ch. pisifera, from which it differs in its more oblong cones (not globose), with the scales flat or slightly protuberant, not depressed in the centre.

Description

A tree attaining huge size in Taiwan, up to 65 m. Bark more or less red-brown. Branchlets in a horizontal plane. Shoots flattened. Leaves scale-like, shortly mucronate, triangular, upper surface green, whitish below, lateral scales of the same length as the facial ones, which have a glandular pit each; when crushed, foliage has an odour of rotting seaweed. Mature cones elliptic, 7-10(-12) mm long, 6-8(-9) mm across, composed of 10 to 14 scales with the outer surface brown, wrinkled and flat or slightly protuberant in the centre. Seeds 3 mm wide and brown, 2 on each scale (Vidakovic 1991; M.P. Frankis email 1999.02.03).

Distribution and Ecology

Taiwan. Mountainous regions in the north and central parts of the island at 1000-3000 m, often forming pure stands or mixed with C. obtusa var. formosana (Li 1975). Kaoxiung & Taichung Xians, 24°17' to 24°23'N by 120°58' to 121°21'E, in coniferous and broadleaf mixed forest (HAST Database). Hardy to Zone 8 (cold hardiness limit between -12.1°C and -6.7°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001).

Big tree

Diameter 582 cm, height 49.4 m, on Mount Morrison (Carder 1995).

Oldest

"This species can attain 1500 years of age, and the oldest tree in Taiwan is about 3000 years old" (Vidakovic 1991). This is an extraordinary age to cite without supporting data, and must for now be regarded with skepticism.

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

Citations

Clinton-Baker, H. 1913. Illustrations of Conifers, Vol. 3. Privately printed: Hertford. Available at openlibrary.org.

Welch, H.J. and G. Haddow 1993. The World Checklist of Conifers.

This page co-edited with M.P. Frankis, 1999.02.

See also

Farjon (2005).

Huang 1994 (the Flora of Taiwan).