Is Elaeocarpus sylvestris an evergreen tree or a deciduous tree?

Elaeocarpus sylvestris has good timber, strong adaptability, and few pests and diseases. It is an excellent variety for courtyard ornamentation and greening around the four sides. It is distributed in Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Zhejiang; Vietnam, growing in low mountain valley forests. So, is Elaeocarpus sylvestris an evergreen or deciduous tree?

1. Is Elaeocarpus sylvestris evergreen or deciduous

Elaeocarpus sylvestris is an evergreen tree plant. It can reach 15 m in height, with leathery leaves, lanceolate or oblanceolate, with small obtuse teeth on the margins; the petiole is slightly hairy at first, becoming glabrous when fruiting. The drupe is elliptical, the exocarp is hairless, the endocarp is hard and bony, and the flowering period is June-July.

2. Propagation methods of Elaeocarpus sylvestris

Elaeocarpus sylvestris is mainly propagated by sowing. Its flowering period is June-August, the fruiting period is October-November, and the drupe is conical and dark purple. Generally, seeds are sown immediately after collection, or the seeds can be stratified with wet sand until sowing in the following spring. During the seedling stage, a few light fertilizer applications can be made in summer, and the seedlings are transplanted separately in the following spring. When transplanting small seedlings, they should be kept with native soil; when transplanting large seedlings, they need to be kept with a soil ball, and some branches and leaves should be properly thinned. After planting, the survival rate is extremely high.

1. Sowing

Seed collection and seed treatment. For the mother tree for seed collection, choose plants aged 15 days or more, growing vigorously, and free of pests and diseases. In late October, when the fruit changes from green to dark green, the drupe is mature and should be collected in time. After the fruit is collected, it can be piled in a cool place or soaked in water for 1-2 hours. After the exocarp softens, rub and wash it, then rinse it clean with clear water, spread it indoors to dry, and store it in sand in time (seeds must never be exposed to the sun, nor should they be stored dry and dehydrated for a long time). Most seeds of the genus Elaeocarpus have deep dormancy. Storing seeds with wet sand at low temperature stratification can significantly increase the germination rate (up to more than 60%).

2. Cuttage

In early summer, cut cuttings from the semi-lignified young shoots of the current year. The cuttings are 10-12 cm long, and the lower leaves are removed, while 2-3 leaves are retained on the upper part, with half of each leaf cut off. Soak the base in a 100 mg/kg NAA solution, or a 50 mg/kg ABT rooting powder solution, for 2-4 hours. Use vermiculite or river sand as the substrate. After inserting, water thoroughly, seal with a plastic film arch tunnel for moisture retention, and shade to cool down. Generally, no additional water spraying management is needed; spray 0.1% potassium permanganate solution every other week to prevent rot. Where conditions permit, full-light automatic mist propagation can be used. Test results show that with this device for seedling propagation, rooting begins about 20 days after cutting, and the cutting survival rate can reach more than 90%. Few pests and diseases.