A Detailed Guide to the Causes of and Solutions for Podocarpus Leaf Drop and Its Propagation Methods
Podocarpus, also known as Luohanshan and Tushan, is a type of pine and a national second-class protected plant. Its leaves are lanceolate in shape, and it often serves as a greening tree, playing an ecological role. It prefers fertile, sandy, and moist soil, is not tolerant of severe cold but has a long lifespan, and grows mixed with broadleaf trees in coastal mountain ranges and offshore mountainous areas.
What are the reasons for Podocarpus leaf drop and what should be done
Reasons for Podocarpus leaf drop:
1. Root rot
In the Pearl River Delta region, the summer is hot and rainy with humid air. If the soil temperature in the pot is too high, it easily causes the plant's root system to rot, affecting the transport of water and nutrients, and leading to wilting and falling of Podocarpus leaves.
For Podocarpus grown outdoors, it must be moved to a sheltered place when the plum rain season arrives, to avoid prolonged rain exposure. Prolonged rain exposure causes the plant's root system to become waterlogged, leaving insufficient oxygen for respiration, and the roots easily rot.
2. Over-fertilization
Potted flowers and plants generally do not like heavily concentrated fertilizer or organic fertilizer that has not been fully decomposed. If the fertilizer concentration is too high, the amount is too large, or it is not fully decomposed, it will cause the root system to be burned and then rot.
3. Too little light
Podocarpus is a plant tolerant of shade and moisture, but long-term shading leads to weak photosynthesis, so the tree's posture and leaf shape cannot maintain a good state, and the leaves may even turn yellow and wilt, which is distressing.
What to do about Podocarpus leaf drop:
1. Prevent waterlogging
Podocarpus is tolerant of shade and moisture. During the growing season, it should be watered regularly, but it should not become waterlogged. In the Pearl River Delta region, on sunny summer days, pay attention to regular watering, generally once in the morning and once in the evening, and also frequently spray water on the leaves. Podocarpus is not tolerant of waterlogging, so be careful to prevent prolonged standing water.
2. Fertilization techniques
Podocarpus likes fertilizer, so apply thin fertilizer frequently. Fertilizer should mainly be nitrogen fertilizer, and an appropriate amount of black alum (ferrous sulfate, about 5 grams per plant per year, or spray the leaves 2-3 times with a 0.2% diluted solution) can be added and fermented into alum fertilizer water. During the growing season, fertilize once every 1-2 months. Fertilization can be done together with watering (water-to-fertilizer ratio of 9:1). For potted plants, spray water-soluble fertilizer containing 0.5%-1.0% compound fertilizer or thin cake liquid fertilizer each time.
3. Light treatment
Podocarpus is a neutral to shade-leaning tree species. It can accept relatively strong light and can also grow in a more shaded environment. Although summer temperatures are high and sunlight is strong, because large Podocarpus trees benefit from high temperature and strong light in maintaining their tree posture and leaf shape, it is not necessary to shade large Podocarpus trees in summer.
For small seedlings, it is a different matter. It is still better to block the scorching sun a bit.
What propagation methods does Podocarpus have
1. Podocarpus propagation method: sowing
Sowing season:
Sowing of Podocarpus is carried out in August each year. It can be done immediately after the seeds are harvested in August.
Sowing and care:
Seedlings grow slowly and need the pot soil kept moist. In midsummer, shade care is required. Fertilization should mainly be light fertilizer, as too high a concentration easily burns the seedlings. When transplanting into pots, the seedlings need to be moved with soil.
2. Podocarpus propagation method: cuttings
Softwood cuttings:
Softwood cuttings refer to the cutting method that uses semi-mature branches of the current year as cuttings during the seedling growth season. It is mainly suitable for evergreen and semi-evergreen woody flowers.
For softwood cuttings, in the first half of the year, they are generally taken from mid-to-late May to early July, and in the second half of the year, from mid-to-late August to mid-to-late September. Cuttings taken in the first half of the year should be protected from high-temperature burn and disease. Cuttings taken in the second half of the year should be protected from cold in the mid-to-late period. The shading net is removed in late November, and in drought years the removal of the shading net can be postponed to late December.
Hardwood cuttings:
Hardwood cuttings refer to the method of cutting strong, fully lignified branches from the previous year during the dormant stage in early spring from February to March, before the sap begins to flow.
Hardwood cuttings do not root as easily as softwood cuttings, so some measures to promote rooting are needed, such as applying some rooting powder to the cut surface, then inserting it into the pot.
For early spring hardwood cuttings, attention should be paid to raising soil temperature and controlling the temperature of the growing environment.
In short, whether softwood cuttings or hardwood cuttings, the disinfection of cuttings and soil must be done properly, and the seedbed temperature, humidity, and light must also be well regulated.
What cultivation methods and precautions does Podocarpus have, and what value does it have
Podocarpus seeds are oval, about 1 cm in diameter, with a rounded tip. When mature, the fleshy aril is purple-black with a white bloom. The seed receptacle is fleshy and cylindrical, red or purplish-red, forming a very unique landscape with the leaves.
What cultivation methods and precautions does Podocarpus have
Cultivation methods for Podocarpus:
1. Soil selection
For potting, humic acid soil should be used, and alkaline soil must not be used. Podocarpus likes loose, fertile, and well-drained slightly acidic soil, and is not tolerant of saline-alkali or barren conditions.
2. Water and fertilizer management
Watering: Podocarpus is relatively tolerant of drought, so during the growing season, watering should follow the principle of preferring dry over wet, keeping the pot soil alternating between dry and moist. If watered too much and the pot soil remains waterlogged for a long time, it will cause root rot and yellow leaves. In severe cases, a large number of leaves will fall off and the plant will die. In the high-temperature summer season, water evaporates quickly, so watering should be more sufficient. If the pot soil is too dry, the leaves are prone to scorch, which also affects ornamental value.
Fertilization: Potted Podocarpus also needs nutrient supplementation. Podocarpus does not like concentrated fertilizer. During the growing season, decomposed organic liquid fertilizer can be used at concentrations of 1:6, 1:8, and 1:10, applied once every ten days to half a month. The next day after fertilizing, water once, which helps the root system absorb it.
3. Temperature and light
Temperature: Podocarpus likes warmth and has weak cold tolerance. When the winter temperature drops to 13°C, it enters dormancy, and at this time the lowest temperature should not be below 10°C.
Light: Podocarpus can tolerate shade, but during the growing season it should not be kept indoors for a long time. This is because indoor light and air humidity are not as good as outdoors, and Podocarpus also needs sunlight and rain for its growth and development.
4. Propagation methods
Sowing propagation: This can be done in August. It is generally carried out in open-field seedbeds. Sow immediately after harvesting. Cover with rice straw, pay attention to shading, and keep the substrate moist. In winter, cover with plastic film to prevent freezing.
Cutting propagation: This can be done in spring and autumn. For spring cuttings in mid-March, select 1-year-old robust dormant branches as cuttings. For autumn cuttings in July to August, select semi-lignified green branches as cuttings. The cuttings should all have a heel, and attention should be paid to shading. Transplanting in March is most suitable.
Precautions for keeping Podocarpus at home:
1. Prevent leggy growth
During the growing period, pay attention to pruning and pinching the already shaped plant to prevent leggy growth of branches and leaves, and to maintain the graceful posture of Podocarpus. When repotting, pay attention to cutting off excess roots and rotten fibrous roots, and also cut off overly dense branches and leggy branches.
2. Prevent cold injury
When the outdoor temperature drops to 5°C in winter, it should be moved indoors. After moving indoors, control watering and stop fertilizing.
3. Prevent pests
For potted Podocarpus, usually place it on a high platform or stone pedestal. In this way, it can reduce ants, earthworms, and other insects crawling into the pot through the bottom hole and harming the plant.
What value does Podocarpus have
1. The role of Podocarpus: beautiful enough to admire on its own
Because Podocarpus has an ancient and elegant tree shape and a peculiar combination of seeds and seed stalks, it is very likable. Podocarpus is often planted in temples and courtyards in southern China. It can be planted in pairs in front of the gate, as a solitary planting in the central courtyard, or in a corner of a wall paired with rockery and lake stones.
Podocarpus varieties are rich and diverse, and each variety has its own unique beauty. It can be grown as a specimen tree.
Variegated Podocarpus can be planted in flower terraces, and can also be used to arrange flower beds or potted and displayed indoors for appreciation. Small-leaf Podocarpus can also be planted as a courtyard hedge.
2. The role of Podocarpus: excellent medicinal material
Podocarpus can be said to be treasure throughout. From roots, stems, and leaves to bark and fruit pulp, all can be used as medicine. It is a plant very beloved by families of medicinal materials. If Xu Xian or Ning Caichen had encountered a wild variety on the mountain, they would have been overjoyed.
According to the records of Gui Yao Bian, the fruit of Podocarpus can treat lung disease and relieve cough.
The root bark of Podocarpus is sweet in taste and slightly warm in nature. It invigorates blood, relieves pain, and kills parasites. Externally, it is used for bruises and scabies.
The leaves of Podocarpus can also be used as medicine and can stop bleeding.
The seeds and receptacle of Podocarpus are sweet in taste and neutral in nature. They tonify qi and the middle, tonify the kidneys, and benefit the lungs. They are used for heart and stomach pain and for blood deficiency with sallow complexion.
3. The role of Podocarpus: economic crop
Podocarpus wood is fine and uniform, and easy to process. It can be used for furniture, utensils, stationery, and farm tools, and is a superior wood. However, wild varieties are rare, so everyone can only look at the varieties they grow themselves to "quench thirst by thinking of plums."
Podocarpus has an elegant and upright charm, with a majestic and vigorous imposing manner. In addition, it fits Chinese cultural meanings such as "longevity" and "keeping wealth and auspiciousness." Owners pursuing high-grade courtyard beautification often like to plant one or two Podocarpus trees, adding a finishing touch to creating their own "garden-style story."
Podocarpus Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) D. Don Podocarpus illustrated guide: how to grow Podocarpus / how to propagate Podocarpus
Podocarpus profilePodocarpus Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) D. Don
Cultivation methods and precautions for Podocarpus, and an introduction to Podocarpus
Podocarpus is a type of pine, also known as Luohanshan, Evergreen Luohanshan, Tushan, Money Pine, Xianbai, Luohanbai, and Jiangnanbai. It is an evergreen tree that can reach up to 18 m tall and is usually pruned to keep it low. Its leaves are alternate and arranged in a spiral. It is also dioecious. The seed receptacle is larger than the seed and turns red when mature. Together with the green seeds, it looks like a bald monk wearing a red monk's robe, hence the name Luohan Pine. Podocarpus is commonly found in southern China, including the Hong Kong, China area. Because potted Podocarpus is ornamental, and its wood is used for construction, medicine, and carving, its value is very high. Therefore, this has led to many incidents of Hong Kong, China Podocarpus being illegally cut down by illegal immigrants from the mainland.
Morphological characteristics of Podocarpus
The crown is broadly ovate. Leaves are linear-lanceolate, with acute tips and cuneate bases. The midrib is raised on both sides. The upper surface is dark green, and the lower surface is grayish-green, sometimes covered with white powder. They are densely arranged and spirally alternate. Dioecious or occasionally monoecious. Seeds are ovate, with a black aril, borne on a fleshy and enlarged receptacle. The receptacle is deep red, sweet, and edible. The flowering period is May, and the seed maturity period is October. Common cultivated varieties include narrow-leaf Podocarpus, with narrower leaves and tips gradually narrowing into a long point; columnar-crown Podocarpus, with small leaves and blunt or rounded tips; small-leaf Podocarpus, with leaves densely clustered at the tips of branchlets, spirally arranged, relatively narrow, and with bluntly rounded tips; short-tipped-leaf Podocarpus, with extremely short and small leaves; and variegated Podocarpus, with white spots on the leaf surface. Based on morphological characteristics, Podocarpus can be judged to belong to the class Taxopsida. Podocarpus is a national second-class protected plant, but what the state protects is the wild Podocarpus germplasm in primary forests. Podocarpus in cities is basically artificially bred offspring and has little biological significance. Just like dawn redwood and ginkgo, the artificially bred offspring are no longer within the scope of protection. Of course, they still play an ecological role as greening trees and also cannot be cut down at will. Transplanting Podocarpus as a landscape tree has no illegal tendency.
Ecological habits of Podocarpus
Podocarpus is produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other provinces and regions, and is cultivated in all provinces south of the Yangtze River. It is also distributed in Japan. At present, it is mainly used for potted appreciation in both the north and south. It likes sufficient sunlight and is also slightly tolerant of shade. It requires mild and humid climatic conditions, with no severe summer heat and humidity, and no severe winter cold or frost. If it encounters light frost, the young leaves and autumn shoots will all turn yellow and wither. Therefore, except in the subtropical regions of southern China and southwestern China, it is not tolerant of severe cold, so in North China it can only be potted. It requires culture soil rich in humus, loose and fertile, and well-drained and slightly acidic. In alkaline soil, the leaves turn yellow and growth is slow. It has a long lifespan, reaching several hundred years, or even over a thousand years.
A semi-heliophilous tree species. It grows well in semi-shaded environments. It likes warm, humid, and fertile sandy loam and can also grow in coastal plains. It is not tolerant of severe cold, so in North China it can only be potted. It has a long lifespan.
Cultivation techniques for Podocarpus
It likes warm, humid, and semi-shaded environments, has slightly poor cold tolerance, fears waterlogging and direct strong light, and requires fertile, well-drained sandy loam. Transplanting is best done in spring from March to April. Small seedlings need to be moved with soil, and large seedlings with soil balls. They can also be potted. After planting, water thoroughly. Keep the soil moist during the growing season. In the high-temperature midsummer season, it needs to be placed in a semi-shaded place for care. Fertilize once every 2 months. In winter, potted plants should be protected from cold, the pot can be buried in soil, and watering should be reduced.
Management key points
1. Light
Podocarpus is a neutral to shade-leaning tree species. It can accept relatively strong light and can also grow in a more shaded environment. Although summer temperatures are high and sunlight is strong, because large Podocarpus trees benefit from high temperature and strong light in maintaining their tree posture and leaf shape, it is not necessary to shade large Podocarpus trees in summer. However, because small Podocarpus seedlings have tender tissues, they should not be exposed to strong light for a long time. It is recommended to place them under tree shade for care.
2. Watering
Podocarpus is not a plant of the Pinaceae family and is not drought-tolerant. On the contrary, Podocarpus is tolerant of shade and moisture. During the growing season, it should be watered regularly, but it should not become waterlogged. In the Shunde area, on sunny summer days, pay attention to regular watering, generally once in the morning and once in the evening. In addition, frequently spray water on the leaves so that the leaf color is fresh green and growth is good. Summer rainfall is usually relatively high, and Podocarpus is not tolerant of waterlogging, so be careful to prevent prolonged standing water.
3. Fertilization
Podocarpus likes fertilizer, so apply thin fertilizer frequently. Fertilizer should mainly be nitrogen fertilizer, and an appropriate amount of black alum can be added and fermented into alum fertilizer water. During the growing season, fertilize once every 1-2 months. Fertilization can be done together with watering (water-to-fertilizer ratio of 9:1). For large-area block planting of Podocarpus, the half-ring trench application method can be used, applying 300-500 grams of quick-soluble compound fertilizer each time. For potted plants, spray water-soluble fertilizer containing 0.5%-1.0% compound fertilizer or thin cake liquid fertilizer each time.
4. Pest and disease control
Podocarpus has relatively few pests and diseases, but in the high-temperature and dry summer season, attention should be paid to controlling red spider mites. Red spider mites gather as adult mites, nymphs, and larvae near the veins and leaf margins of Podocarpus leaves and on tender branches, sucking sap. The affected leaf surface shows many powdery green spots, which later become small grayish-white spots, losing the original luster. In severe cases, the entire leaf becomes grayish-white. The control method is to spray some insecticides for treating red spider mites during the high-incidence period of red spider mites (May to September), such as pyridaben, hexythiazox, fenbutatin oxide, etc., once every 10 days, with the concentration used according to the instructions.
Styling techniques
The purpose of artistic styling of Podocarpus is to "style according to the tree" and "apply artistry according to the material," using superb artistic expression techniques to excavate the highest artistic realm from ordinary tree shapes and maximize ornamental value.
Styling methods
Commonly used methods include pruning, tying, pressing, binding, and hanging. Pruning and styling are relatively simple, while styling methods such as tying, pressing, binding, and hanging are more difficult and require higher artistic imagination, operational skill, and condition of the tree's trunk and branches. During the styling process, artistic processing must be carried out according to the natural beauty of the seedling itself, that is, measures must be adapted to the tree to add beauty to beauty, achieving a strong and powerful shape with clear layers.
1. Pruning: Taking advantage of Podocarpus's tolerance of pruning and small leaf shape, various shapes can be made, such as spherical, conical, multi-layered spherical, etc. It only needs to be pruned according to the pre-designed figure. For example, when pruning a three-layer sphere, first select a seedling with an obvious trunk and relatively good upright form. If the pruning design is a three-layer sphere with a total height of 2 m, then the lower layer is about 50 cm high, the middle layer is about 40 cm high, and the top layer is 30 cm high. It is necessary to cut off all branches on the trunk in the 45 cm between the first and second layers and the 35 cm between the second and third layers, and then prune the three spheres. It is advisable for the three spheres from top to bottom to gradually increase in size, so as to seek coordinated proportions and better ornamental value. Generally, pruning is suitable when new shoots have grown 20-30 cm, and multiple prunings are needed to make each layer of spheres round, full, and compact.
2. Tying: For tying-style shaping, sturdy bamboo sticks and strong hemp rope can be selected. Use hemp rope to tie the bamboo sticks and branches tightly and securely, then fix one end of the bamboo stick to the main trunk, thereby adjusting the direction of the bamboo stick so that the branches grow in a specific direction according to the stylist's wishes, achieving the purpose of shaping. It should be noted that tying-style shaping is suitable for younger Podocarpus trees, while older Podocarpus trees, because their branches and trunks are thick, make shaping difficult and the effect poor.
3. Pressing: Pressing-style shaping mainly uses the method of bending and tilting the main trunk so that the tree body presents an artistic beauty on the slant completely different from that of the upright plane. Because the branches and trunks of Podocarpus resemble human arms, and the clustered hemispherical leaves growing at the tops of the branches and trunks resemble human palms, together with the bent tree body, it is like a greeter bending forward and bending the arms to welcome guests, very vivid and lifelike. It should be noted that after bending the tree body, wooden stakes must be used to support the tilted end to prevent the tree body from lodging due to excessive tilting, and rice straw of moderate thickness should be placed between the contact surface of the wooden stake and the tree body to avoid injury to the tree body.
Current market situation
Although Podocarpus is native to China, due to historical reasons, there are very few large Podocarpus trees old enough, and the number of large-size Podocarpus greening seedlings is also extremely limited. As a slow-growing tree species, Podocarpus itself cannot be rapidly replicated, and the existing quantity is far from meeting the needs of courtyard greening and high-end residential landscapes. In particular, large-size, beautifully shaped Podocarpus is even harder to find. It is understood that currently, engineering seedlings with a diameter at breast height of more than 10 cm on the market mainly rely on imports.
In Guangdong, China, family consumption is the main focus. It is understood that in Guangdong, families have become the main force in Podocarpus consumption, with a purchase proportion of about 30%, tending to choose mid-to-high-end products. Next are landscaping units at about 20%, enterprises and institutions at about 20%, collectors at about 15%, and other uses at about 15%.
Industry insiders analyze that the proportion of family consumption will continue to increase, and price consumption will become more rational. With the economic development of the Pearl River Delta region, having a garden for leisure in the city's reinforced concrete "forest" is no longer the privilege of the top pyramid class, and more and more private gardens are quietly emerging. Podocarpus has an elegant and upright charm, with a majestic and vigorous imposing manner. In addition, it fits Chinese cultural meanings such as "longevity" and "keeping wealth and auspiciousness." Owners pursuing high-grade courtyard beautification often like to plant one or two Podocarpus trees, adding a finishing touch to creating their own "garden-style story."
Gradually open up markets in other provinces. The northern China market is mainly based on government consumption. Municipal key greening projects and road projects have an obvious pulling effect on engineering seedlings, and there is a large demand for landscape seedlings and engineering seedlings. Podocarpus operating enterprises in Guangdong seize this business opportunity and open up markets in other provinces. But overall, the Pearl River Delta market still has great development potential. In 2012, the number of Podocarpus sold by Longyan Horticulture to other provinces accounted for 90% of the enterprise's total sales, and the situation of other enterprises operating Podocarpus is roughly the same.
Propagation methods of Podocarpus
Sowing and cutting propagation are commonly used.
For sowing, sow immediately after collecting seeds in August, and they germinate in about 10 days. For cuttings, carry out in spring and autumn. In spring, select dormant branches; in autumn, select semi-lignified tender branches, 12-15 cm, and insert them into a seedbed with half sand and half soil. They root in about 50-60 days.
Disease control of Podocarpus
The main diseases are leaf spot and anthracnose, which can be sprayed with 500 times dilution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder. Pests include scale insects, red spider mites, and bagworms, which can be killed by spraying 1500 times dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
Variety classification of Podocarpus
1. Small-leaf Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) Sweet. var. maki Siev. & Zucc.), also known as Que She Luohan Song, Que She Song, and Duan Ye Tu Shan, is shrub-like, with short and densely growing leaves, mostly borne at the tips of branchlets, with white powder on the underside.
2. Short-leaf Podocarpus (Podocarpus brevifolius.), also known as Xiao Luohan Song and Tu Shan, is often shrub-like, with leaves spirally clustered and arranged. The single leaf is short-strap-shaped lanceolate, with a bluntly acute tip and a rounded or cuneate base. The leaf is leathery, dark green, with an obvious midrib and a very short petiole. It is cultivated in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and is best for potting.
3. Narrow-leaf Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus var. angustitolius B1.), with linear and slender leaves, usually 5-9 cm long and 3-6 mm wide, with the tip gradually narrowing into a long point and the base cuneate. Produced in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Jiangxi.
4. Dali Podocarpus (Podocarpus forrestii), shrub-like, with relatively large leaves. Produced in Cangshan, Dali, Yunnan, and used in Kunming for courtyard ornament and as bonsai.
5. Hainan Podocarpus (Podocarpus annamiensis NEGray), with leaves spirally arranged and spreading radially, 4-10.5 cm long and 5-10 mm wide, with rounded or bluntly acute tips. Seeds nearly spherical or ovate, symmetrical on both sides. The seed receptacle is columnar-elliptic, longer than the seed or equal in length to the seed. Scattered distribution in southern Hainan.
6. Lanyu Podocarpus (Podocarpus costalis), with leaves borne at branch tips, lanceolate, with rounded and blunt tips, hard leathery, dark green and glossy. Native to Lanyu, Taiwan, China. Lanyu Podocarpus has clustered leaves, is evergreen all year round, and has a simple and elegant appearance. Young plants can be potted, and mature trees are a high-grade tree species for courtyard beautification, and can also be shaped into round, conical, or high-grade bonsai.
Distribution areas of Podocarpus
Produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other provinces and regions, and cultivated in all provinces south of the Yangtze River. It is also distributed in Japan.
At present, the largest Podocarpus base in the country is located in Baishitong Zhaobao, Nanchang, Jiangxi. It is the famous and precious tree planting base mainly developed in Nanchang, Jiangxi by Fujian Zhaobao Ecological Farm. It covers an area of more than 2,000 mu, with varied forms and a value of several billion yuan. It is currently the largest Podocarpus cultivation base in the country.
Cultural background of Podocarpus, greening news
At the end of July and the beginning of August 2010, the city of Zhuhai spent 8 million yuan to plant 31 Buddhist pines (Podocarpus macrophyllus) along two roads. As soon as the trees were in the ground, questions erupted. Some citizens demanded that the officials of the relevant departments explain the Buddhist pine site.
The person in charge of the Zhuhai Municipal Urban Landscaping and Forestry Bureau said that cities such as Shenzhen and Zhongshan had all spent huge sums of money to create urban landscaped boulevards, and Zhuhai was not the first to plant Buddhist pines. The person in charge said that the "Big Trees Welcome Spring" project, to which the Buddhist pine planting belonged, had gone through project approval by the development and reform department and public bidding procedures. Before implementation, opinions were sought from the People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The Buddhist pines introduced this time were also kept within the budget estimate approved by the development and reform department.
It is understood that the 31 Buddhist pines cost an average of 260,000 yuan each, and the relevant departments will use GPS positioning for these precious large trees to prevent theft.
Mysterious legends
1. In the schoolyard of Shiqiutou Village Primary School in Tiepu Town, Chao'an County, there is a Buddhist pine that is deeply cherished by the villagers. Several times in history, construction plans were changed because of the need to protect the Buddhist pine. Buyers of flowers and trees came to the door many times and offered large sums of money to buy this Buddhist pine, but in the end they were all turned away. Speaking of this unremarkable-looking Buddhist pine, the village elders say it is their "treasure that guards the village."
This Buddhist pine is about 6 m tall, with a small crown, and from a distance it looks like a palm-leaf fan stretching out above the roof. The tree's shape is a little unusual, bending to one side, with the outer bark severely peeling off, and there are also traces of termite damage. Fortunately, the leaves are still relatively green and dense.
This Buddhist pine was transplanted from Kaiyuan Temple in 1851, 154 years ago. At the time, in order to encourage students to study diligently and become accomplished, the school obtained this tree with the help of a monk from Kaiyuan Temple. It used to be called the auspicious tree, meaning that teachers and students would enjoy good fortune and that the school would be run better and better.
In fact, the reason this Buddhist pine is regarded as a village treasure is not only its great age and pleasant name, but more importantly, after the Buddhist pine was planted, whether in the old-style school of former times or the later school, talented people came forth in large numbers, making the local people feel proud.
According to Chen Senlan, a retired principal now 75 years old, after this tree was planted in the first year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, 30 people from the village passed the imperial examinations across ten subjects; during the Republic of China period, more than 50 university students emerged, some entering the naval academy, some going to the Whampoa Military Academy, and some to Tsinghua University in Beijing; after Liberation, more than 360 people from Shiqiutou Village, with a population of two to three thousand, were admitted to university.
The elder said that although the claim that planting the tree brought prosperity in the imperial examinations is not to be believed, it is true that after the Buddhist pine was planted, the village greatly promoted the ethos of valuing culture and education. Perhaps this was the original intention of the ancestors in planting the tree.
2. On the west side of Lujiazhou Village, less than 500 m from the village, is an ancient water transport dock. On the dock, ancient camphor trees stand in a dense grove, casting several mu of green shade. Among them stands a vigorous, upright Buddhist pine with luxuriant branches and leaves.
According to an investigation by garden scholars, the tree is 28 m tall, with a circumference of 5.20 m, and is more than 1,500 years old.
Legend has it that when the founding ancestor of Lujiazhou established the village, he cut the branches and leaves of the Buddhist pine and found that a pale red, blood-like thick sap flowed from the cut. He therefore believed that the tree had a living spirit like a human being, regarded it as an immortal tree of the human world, held it in extraordinary awe, and called it the "Old Divine Tree." Through the generations, the descendants of the Lu clan have taken extra care of the Old Divine Tree and revered it as a deity.
According to legend, the "Old Divine Tree" is protected by a divine snake. The divine snake is as thick as a bowl's mouth, more than one zhang long, and has a fiery red "cockscomb" on its head. Whenever the wind blows and rain falls, or there is lightning and thunder, the divine snake dances in the air around the Buddhist pine, protecting it from being harmed by lightning.
Two elderly people in the village, both over 70 years old, claimed that they had both seen the divine snake with their own eyes. The difference was that one of them fell seriously ill for a full 3 years because of it, while the other had a son in old age because of it. They themselves said this was because each person's "flame" was different, and fortune and misfortune are unpredictable.
Buddhist pine image