Northeast Yew Seedling Encyclopedia Introduction
Latin name: Taxus cuspidata
Plant name: Northeast Yew
Scientific name: taxus cuspidata sieb et zucc
Aliases: Purple yew, Red cypress pine, Purple cypress pine, Broadleaf yew, Rice tree, etc.
Family name: Taxaceae
Latin family name: Taxaceae
Genus name: Taxus
Northeast Yew is one of China's 4 species and 1 variety of yew; the other 3 species and 1 variety are Yunnan yew, Tibetan yew, Chinese yew, and Southern yew.
[Distribution area]
Mainly distributed in Northeast China, Japan, Korea, Russia (Amur Oblast, Sakhalin, etc.) and other Northeast Asian regions. Such as: eastern Liaoning, Jilin
Temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest region (main cities: Harbin, Mudanjiang, Hegang, Jixi, Shuangyashan, Yichun, Jiamusi, Changchun, Siping, Yanji, Fushun, Tieling, Benxi)
[Morphological characteristics]
The tree can reach 20 m tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 1 m. The crown is obovate or broadly ovate. The bark is reddish brown or grayish red, thin, and splits into flakes. Branches are densely grown, branchlets are reddish brown, first-year branches are dark green, turning light reddish brown after autumn. Leaves on the main branches are arranged spirally, while on the side branches the leaf stalk bases twist to form irregular two rows on the left and right. Leaves are linear, semi-straight or slightly curved, 1.5~2.5 cm long and 2.5 mm wide, dark green and glossy on the surface. Dioecious, strobili grow in the leaf axils of the previous year's branches, male strobili have 9~14 stamens, female strobili have one ovule, the ovule is ovate, light red, and erect. Seeds are ovate, purple-brown when mature, glossy, about 6 mm long and 5 mm in diameter. Covered by an aril that opens at the upper part, obovate-round when mature, cup-shaped, deep red, fleshy, and rich in juice. Flowering period is May to June, and seeds mature in September to October.
[Biological characteristics]
It is shade-tolerant in habitat and can also grow under dense forest; it is perennial and does not form forests. It is mostly seen in mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests dominated by Korean pine. It grows on rocky or barren soil on mountaintops and often appears shrub-like. In its place of origin, the average annual temperature is 2°C to 7°C, and the average annual precipitation is 750~1000 mm. It is mostly scattered under moist, fertile mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests on shady slopes or semi-shady slopes. It prefers cool and humid climates, can withstand low temperatures below minus 30°C, has strong cold resistance, and the optimum temperature is 20°C to 25°C; it avoids sudden heat, sudden cold, and dry air, and is a shade-loving tree species. It likes moisture but fears waterlogging, and is suitable for planting in loose, moist, well-drained sandy loam.
[Growing regions]
Northeast Yew is a Northeast tree species, adapted to grow in Northeast China, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai and other areas north of the Yangtze River.
[Annual growth situation]
The plant height of Northeast Yew grows slowly in the first three years, generally increasing by about 10-15 CM per year; after one year of transplanting, growth accelerates, and seedlings over 3 years old can increase in height by 20-30 CM each year.
[Appearance characteristics]
The characteristic of Northeast Yew is that the tree's small branches turn yellow-green or light reddish brown as soon as autumn arrives. Its leaves are two-ranked, slightly curved and sickle-shaped; seen up close they look like balls, and from a distance like flowers, extremely beautiful.
[Growth habits]
Shade-loving, prefers cool and humid climates, shallow-rooted, fears waterlogging, and avoids saline-alkali soil
[Medicinal value]
The stems, branches, leaves, and roots are used as medicine. The main components include paclitaxel, taxine, and diterpenoid compounds. It has anticancer functions and also has effects in inhibiting diabetes and treating heart disease. According to identification by authoritative departments and related reports, yews within China have a certain content for extracting paclitaxel, especially Northeast Yew with its special growing environment, whose content can reach up to three ten-thousandths (according to A.G.F.Neto's report). The unique climate conditions are conducive to the deposition of substances in the plant. If Northeast Yew is appropriately moved southward, it can increase the growing period, improve the growing environment, help the synthesis of active ingredients in the body, and increase content and quality. Scientific research shows that soaking the bark, roots, and trunk of yew in water and drinking it has a certain anticancer function, but very little paclitaxel is extracted, only about 50% can be extracted, among which wild yew in the Changbai Mountain area of Northeast China has the highest paclitaxel content.
[Landscaping and ornamental value]
Northeast Yew is not only a rare medicinal plant but also an excellent choice for landscaping and beautifying gardens and courtyards, and is currently the most precious and rare high-grade landscaping tree species. Its unique bonsai ornamental value is another major feature of Northeast Yew. Northeast Yew bonsai treated with dwarfing technology have a simple and elegant shape, with compact but not dense branches and leaves, spreading but not loose; red stems, red branches, green leaves, and red fruits give it multiple ornamental values of stem, branch, leaf, and fruit. The smooth red stems represent magnanimity and nobility, the evergreen needles express perseverance and eternity, and the red fruits resembling "love beans" highlight affection and longing. The overall shape is restrained without showing off, extraordinary and refined, with a strong flavor of life and cultural heritage. Because of its scarce resources, Northeast Yew is listed as a first-class rare tree species in China for protection.