Appearance, Planting Methods, and Benefits and Effects of the National First-Class Key Protected Wild Plant Vitis balansana
Vitis balansana, an endangered species. Also known as bitter jujube, a woody vine. It is only scattered within a small area of Jinghong in greater Xishuangbanna, growing at the edge of seasonal rainforest in low mountain valleys at an altitude of 620 m. China has only this one genus and one species. So, what does Vitis balansana look like? How is it planted? What benefits and effects does it have?
What does Vitis balansana look like?
Woody vine, young branches sparsely pubescent. Leaves leathery, ovate or ovate-elliptic, 9.5-22 cm long, 4.5-13 cm wide, apex acuminate or abruptly pointed, base rounded or obtuse, rarely broadly cuneate, glabrous on both surfaces, glossy above, lateral veins 5-9 pairs, raised on both surfaces, reticulate veins sparse and inconspicuous; petiole 2.5-8 cm long, enlarged and geniculate at the apex. Male inflorescences with 1-3 flowers, clustered, borne in the leaf axils of fallen leaves, peduncle 6-10 mm long, sparsely pubescent; sepals 12, in 4 whorls; petals 6, stamens 6, free. Infructescence borne on leafless old branches, with 31 fruits, peduncle stout, up to 2 cm long; drupe elliptic, orange-red when mature, 2.5-3 cm long, 1.7-2.5 cm in diameter, carpophore up to 1.5 cm long; seeds elliptic, 1.5-1.7 cm long.
How is Vitis balansana planted?
1. Temperature
Temperature is one of the main factors affecting the growth and development of Vitis balansana, directly influencing its distribution. In areas where the average daily temperature during the flowering period remains stable above 22°C and the period from after flowering until the average daily temperature drops below 16°C in autumn, with a fruit growth and development period greater than 100-120 days, Vitis balansana can grow normally. Vitis balansana is a thermophilic tree species, and its growth and development require relatively high temperatures, shown by late budding, early leaf fall, fewer fruits set when temperatures are low, slow fruit growth, little dry matter, and poor quality. Therefore, the air temperature during the flowering period and fruit growth period is an important limiting factor for the planting regions of Vitis balansana. Vitis balansana is highly tolerant of low and high temperatures; it can overwinter safely at -30°C and can also flower and bear fruit at an absolute maximum temperature of 45°C.
2. Humidity
Vitis balansana has a relatively wide range of adaptability to humidity, being distributed in areas with annual precipitation of 100-1200 mm, with 400-700 mm being more suitable. Vitis balansana is drought-resistant and waterlogging-tolerant; in Cangzhou, it can still bear fruit normally in years with annual precipitation of just over 100 mm, and a jujube orchard flooded for more than 1 month did not die from waterlogging.
3. Light
Vitis balansana is strongly heliophilic; light intensity and day length directly affect its photosynthesis, thereby affecting growth and fruiting. The effect of light on growth and fruiting is relatively common in production. In densely closed jujube orchards, Vitis balansana has weak tree vigor, poor growth of jujube heads, secondary branches and bearing shoots, many ineffective branches, many dead branches in the inner canopy, low yield and poor quality; edge rows and edge trees bear more fruit and have better quality. As for a single tree, the outer periphery and upper part of the canopy bear more fruit and have better quality, while the inner canopy and lower part bear fewer fruit and have poorer quality. Therefore, in production, in addition to rational close planting, reasonable winter and summer pruning should also be used to shape a good tree structure, improve light conditions in all parts, and achieve high yield and high quality.
4. Soil
Soil is the supply source of water and mineral elements needed for the growth and development of Vitis balansana. Soil texture, soil layer thickness, aeration, pH value, water and organic matter have direct effects on the growth and development of Vitis balansana. Vitis balansana has low soil requirements, is salt-alkali resistant and tolerant of barren soil. It can grow normally within a soil pH range of 5.5-8.2, and can also tolerate a soil salt content of 0.4%. However, Vitis balansana grown in deep sandy loam especially has a tall and broad canopy, a deep and extensive root system, robust growth, strong yielding ability, and high and stable yield; when grown in sandy soil or gravelly soil with low fertility, water and fertilizer retention are poor, tree vigor is relatively weak, and yield is low; Vitis balansana grown in heavy clay soil has poor yield ability due to poor soil aeration and small root spread and canopy spread. This is mainly because the soil provides different nutrients and growth environments for Vitis balansana. Therefore, when establishing an orchard, choose as far as possible a site with deep loam soil. For Vitis balansana growing under poorer soil conditions, management should be strengthened, soil improved and fertility built up, and the soil's ability to supply fertilizer and water and its aeration improved, so as to meet the fertilizer and water needs of Vitis balansana and achieve the goal of high quality and stable yield.
What benefits and effects does Vitis balansana have?
1. As food, it has the effects of tonifying qi and nourishing yin, and enriching and invigorating blood; it is listed as a National First-Class Key Protected Wild Plant.
2. Woody vine. Young branches sparsely pubescent. Leaves leathery, ovate or ovate-elliptic. China has only a single-species genus; it is an endemic species of Yunnan, an endangered species, under National First-Class protection, and has relatively high ornamental value.