Where is the habitat of Eucommia ulmoides? What is its growing environment?

Eucommia ulmoides is also known as Simian tree bark, silk cotton bark, cotton tree bark, etc. It is a deciduous tree plant of the genus Eucommia in the family Eucommiaceae. The dried bark is used as medicine and has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening tendons and bones, regulating the Chong and Ren meridians, and securing menstruation and preventing miscarriage. It can treat waist and leg pain or soreness, weakness and lack of strength caused by kidney yang deficiency, insecure fetus caused by liver qi deficiency, and scrotal dampness and itching, and was listed as a superior grade in the Shennong Bencao Jing. Now let us take a look together at where the habitat of Eucommia ulmoides is!

I. Where is the habitat of Eucommia ulmoides

From records in literature before modern times, it can be seen that in ancient times the main producing areas of Eucommia ulmoides were Hanzhong and Shangzhou in Shaanxi (that is, the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains in southern Shaanxi), north of Changzhi City in Shanxi Province (Luliang Mountains), Wushan County in Sichuan Province (Ba Mountains), Yichang in Hubei Province (Shennongjia), and Huaiyang and Sanmenxia City in Henan Province (Eastern Qinling, Funiu Mountains, Xiong'er Mountains). This shows that the main production areas are mountainous regions. Rare ancient books seldom give the specific production locations of Eucommia ulmoides, and it can be seen that these places are the authentic producing areas of Eucommia ulmoides. From modern books and textual research, it can be seen that the natural distribution area of Eucommia ulmoides is in the Qin (ling) Ba (Mountains) mountainous area of Shaanxi and Sichuan, northern Hubei, southwestern Henan, and northwestern Hunan. These are all central producing areas of Eucommia ulmoides. According to the biological characteristics of Eucommia ulmoides, the large production cities, counties and districts that later appeared were all developed in recent times. Lueyang is located at the southern foot of the Qinling Mountains, exactly within the range of the authentic producing areas and central producing areas of Eucommia ulmoides, and the development history of Lueyang Eucommia ulmoides also developed along with the history of Lueyang. Lueyang has a relatively early history of development. Before the pre-Qin period, it belonged to the Dongcheng settlement of the Baiyan clan and was a nomadic pastoralist group. The county has many mountains, and abundant vegetation shaped a lifestyle based mainly on herding and gathering medicinal herbs. In addition, it was connected to Hanzhong by geographical plank roads, and navigation on the Jialing River was very developed. It was at this time that Lueyang Eucommia ulmoides began to be used.

II. The growing environment of Eucommia ulmoides

Eucommia ulmoides prefers a warm and humid climate and an environment with sufficient sunlight, can withstand severe cold, and mature plants can survive normally under conditions of -30°C. It can be cultivated in most areas of China and has strong adaptability. It is not strict in its choice of soil, but loam with deep soil layers, loose fertility, moisture and good drainage is most suitable. The growth rate of the Eucommia ulmoides tree is relatively slow in the juvenile stage, and the rapid growth period appears from 7 to 20 years. After 20 years, the growth rate decreases year by year. After 50 years, height growth basically stops, and the plant naturally withers.