The Taoshi Baijianqing is found globally only at Sun Moon Lake; its bark extract has anticancer potential

Text / Lianhuachi Research Center, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute

"Peach-fruit Podocarpus" (Podocarpus nakaii) is a world-class rare plant. Existing survey records show it only in the low-elevation mountain areas near Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan, China, and in the Shouka area in the south. It is a plant endemic to Taiwan, China, and this rare treasure cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. Scholars have extracted natural compounds with anticancer potential from its bark, making it even more precious. The Lianhuachi Research Center of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute lists Podocarpus nakaii as one of the tree species with high conservation value, and also calls on all sectors to protect the habitat of Podocarpus nakaii.

Podocarpus nakaii: fruit looks like a peach, leaves evergreen year-round

Director Hsu Yuan-jui of the Lianhuachi Research Center pointed out that Podocarpus nakaii is a gymnosperm in the Podocarpaceae family and gets its name because the fruit is shaped like a peach; its mature leaves are evergreen year-round, hence the name "bairihcing" (hundred-day green), and the newly emerging leaf buds appear red, which is its main feature. More than a hundred years ago, Japanese technician Nakai Sozo discovered and collected it in the Nantou area. In 1916, Hayata Bunzo published it as a new species in the "Icones of the Plants of Taiwan," using Nakaii as the species name to honor the contribution of this young collector.

It cannot be too cold and cannot get too much sun; it loves Lianhuachi most

Podocarpus nakaii can be seen almost everywhere in the Lianhuachi area. According to plot survey results, there are about 100 plants per hectare. The largest plant has a diameter at breast height of about 30 cm, but nearly 90% have a diameter at breast height of less than 10 cm; all tree heights are below 10 m. These characteristics show that Podocarpus nakaii is a shade-tolerant tree species of the forest understory; the seedlings are protected by large trees and can grow well under their shade.

Interestingly, why does Podocarpus nakaii appear only in the forest understory near Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan, China? Hsu Yuan-jui explained that Podocarpus nakaii cannot grow at too high an elevation, as it is too cold for it to grow, but it also cannot get too much sun, which would inhibit photosynthesis, so Podocarpus nakaii can only grow in the understory of lower-elevation forests with higher temperatures.

In the Lianhuachi area, whether in planted or natural forests, seedlings of Podocarpus nakaii can be found, and in considerable numbers, which confirms the above inference. However, the dioecious characteristic of Podocarpus nakaii limits its range of dispersal, making Podocarpus nakaii an extremely rare plant. Even so, with the Lianhuachi Experimental Forest as the core, its seedlings can be found in adjacent afforestation sites, which should be the result of the bright red, tasty seed receptacles attracting birds to come and feed, thereby helping dispersal.

Fruit is red and beautiful in spring, the best time to visit

Director Huang Yu-hsing of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute emphasized that Podocarpus nakaii has a beautiful tree form and appealing bright red seed receptacles, making it a good garden plant, and spring is the best season to view the red fruit.

In addition, scholars have taken its bark, performed ethanol extraction for chemical analysis and related activity tests, and isolated a variety of natural products. Because these product components are considered to have anticancer potential, it has become an important plant for the future development of anticancer drugs. The Taiwan Forestry Research Institute calls for strengthening protection of the habitat of Podocarpus nakaii, so as to prevent these world-class rare plants from meeting the fate of extinction.