Encyclopedia Knowledge Introduction to Himalayan Yew Seedlings
Latin name: Taxus wallichiana Zucc.
Chinese name: Himalayan yew
Latin family name: Taxaceae
Chinese family name: Yew family
Latin genus name: Enpcontent
Chinese genus name: Yew genus
National Class I key protected wild plant (approved by the State Council on August 4, 1999). Taxus wallichiana, also known as the Himalayan yew, is one of China's 4 species and 1 variety of yew, and is a tree species endemic to Tibet. The other 3 species and 1 variety are: Yunnan yew, Northeast yew, Chinese yew, and Southern yew (variety).
Morphological characteristics
Evergreen small tree or shrub, with spreading or upward-extending branches; bark pale reddish-brown, splitting into thin flakes and peeling off; branchlets irregularly alternate, pale green, later turning pale brown or reddish-brown; winter buds ovoid, bud scales imbricate, basal bud scales usually triangular-ovoid, apex acute, slightly keeled on the back, deciduous or a few persistent at the base of branchlets. Leaves spirally arranged, irregularly distichous, linear. Usually straight, Kl.5-3.5 cm, about 2.5 mm wide, apex with a raised sharp point, upper surface glossy green, midrib raised, lower surface with pale yellow stomatal bands 2 times wider than the green marginal bands; with a short petiole. Dioecious, strobili solitary in leaf axils; male strobili globose, with numerous spirally arranged stamens, with a short stalk; female strobili nearly sessile, with 1 ovule bearing a disc-shaped aril at the upper end, surrounded at the base by several imbricately arranged bracts. Seeds mature in the same year, nut-like, columnar-oblong, borne in a fleshy, red, cup-shaped aril, about 6.5 mm long, 4.5-5 mm in diameter, slightly flattened, with blunt ridges on both sides of the lower part, apex with a short point, hilum elliptical.
Biological characteristics
The climate of the distribution area is characterized by warm summers and cool winters, with four distinct seasons, snow cover in winter, an annual average temperature of about 10°C, a maximum temperature of 16-18°C, a minimum temperature of 0°C, annual precipitation of 800-1000 mm, and an annual average relative humidity of 50-60%. It is cold-tolerant and has relatively strong shade tolerance, and requires sufficient temperature during the growing season. It mostly grows in forests in river valleys and relatively moist areas along ditches. The main community tree species are Pinus griffithii McClelland, P. roxburghii Sarg., Tsuga dumosa (D. Don) Eichler, and Quercus semicarpifolia Smith., etc. The flowering period is May, and the seeds mature in September-October.
Propagated by seeds. The seed embryo has a relatively long dormancy period. After seed collection, it must be stored in wet sand layers at low temperature. Sowing in spring, the germination period may be extended to the second year. It can also be propagated by cuttings.
Economic uses
Taxus wallichiana has the smallest distribution area in China and also the smallest resource reserves among the species, but the resources have basically not been damaged. It is mainly used for medicine, ornamental purposes, scientific research, etc.