What are the aliases of the dragon spruce (Picea asperata), a tree species endemic to China, and at what elevation is it suitable for planting?
The dragon spruce is a tree species endemic to China. Its trunk is straight with few knots, and its wood has a straight, evenly distributed grain and a very fine structure, making it very easy to work with. Therefore, it is widely used for timber in construction, aircraft, musical instruments, furniture, boxes and crates, veneer, and raw materials for the fiber industry. Let's take a look below at what the aliases of the dragon spruce, a tree species endemic to China, are, and at what elevation it is suitable for planting.
I. What are the aliases of the dragon spruce, a tree species endemic to China?
The aliases of the dragon spruce are thick-branched spruce, big-cone spruce, rough-barked spruce, variable-scale spruce, big spruce, and white pine. It is widely distributed in the mountains of North China, and is also found in areas such as the Lesser Khingan Mountains in the Northeast, southwestern Shaanxi (Feng County), eastern Gansu (Liangdang) and the Bailong River basin, the Tao River basin, and the upper reaches of the Min River basin and the Greater and Lesser Jinchuan river basins in Sichuan.
The dragon spruce has a well-formed tree shape and strong adaptability to the environment. Its wood has a fine grain and a hard texture, and can be used to make bridges and furniture. The stem bark of the dragon spruce can also be used to make ropes and artificial cotton; the leaves have certain medicinal value; and rosin can be extracted from the trunk.
II. At what elevation is the dragon spruce suitable for planting?
The dragon spruce is suitable for growing in areas at an elevation of 2400-3600 m, and grows in cold and dry environments. The dragon spruce has relatively high soil requirements, and prefers to grow in sandy soil that is well-drained, highly breathable, deep, and slightly acidic. Because it is a shallow-rooted tree species, its growth rate is very slow.
When planting the dragon spruce, propagation is usually carried out by sowing seeds to raise seedlings or by cuttings to raise seedlings. Pruning one-year-old well-developed branches from one- to five-year-old seedlings to use as cuttings gives the highest survival rate. Hardwood cuttings are generally taken from February to March; after leaf fall, the branches are pruned, tied, and stored in sand over winter, and then in the following spring they can be inserted into the seedbed, taking care to maintain soil moisture. With proper care, roots can develop in one month or one and a half months. Softwood cuttings are generally taken from May to June; semi-lignified branches are selected, and when they have grown to twelve to fifteen cm, they are generally inserted as cuttings and will root in about twenty-five days.
The seeds of the dragon spruce are very small and are especially afraid of drought and flooding. It is necessary to choose relatively flat terrain that is convenient for drainage and irrigation, and to sow on loose, fertile sandy loam. The suitable sowing time for the dragon spruce is from late March to early April. Especially at the seed germination stage and the seedling stage, attention should be paid to watering to maintain soil moisture. In addition, do not expose it to strong light; keep it appropriately shaded.
The above is an introduction to the aliases of the dragon spruce and the question of at what elevation it is suitable for planting. We hope it is of some help to you.