Torreya grandis

Torreya grandis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Cupressales
Family: Taxaceae
Genus: Torreya
Species:
T. grandis
Binomial name
Torreya grandis
Fortune ex Lindl.

Torreya grandis (Chinese: 香榧; pinyin: xiāngfěi; lit. 'fragrant nutmeg yew') is a species of conifer in either the family Taxaceae, or Cephalotaxaceae. Common names include Chinese Torreya and Chinese nutmeg yew,[2] which refers to its edible seeds that resemble nutmeg and to its yew-like foliage, although it is not related to either nutmeg nor to the true yews belonging to the genus Taxus. Originating in the Jurassic period, about 170 million years ago, it is known as a "living fossil".[3] T. grandis is a large tree that can attain height of 25 metres (82 ft), and possibly as high as 39 metres (128 ft).[4] T. grandis is endemic to eastern and south-eastern China; it is found in the coastal provinces Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu, as well as in Anhui, Guizhou, Hunan, and Jiangxi inland. Its natural habitat are mountains and open valleys, often by streams, between 200 and 1,400 metres (660 and 4,590 ft) ASL.[5] T. grandis is a precious tree species with multiple values. According to survey data, its economic life is more than a thousand years.[3]

Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii is a cultivar with a history going back to the Tang dynasty. It is believed to originate from the mountains of northeast Zhejiang.[6]

  1. ^ Yang, Y.; Luscombe, D (2013). "Torreya grandis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T191881A2011932. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T191881A2011932.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ Eckenwalder, J.E. 2009. Conifers of the World: The Complete Reference. Timber Press.
  3. ^ a b 吴家胜, 张瑞, 喻卫武, 侯宇 (2020-01-09). "香榧：传承千年的美食珍果" (in Chinese). www.forestry.gov.cn. Retrieved 2022-12-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Christopher J. Earle (2011). "Chamaecyparis". The Gymnosperm Database. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference eflora was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ LI Zhang-ju; CHENG Xiao-jian; DAI Wen-sheng; ZENG Yan-ru (2005). "Origin of Torreya grandis 'Merrillii'". Journal of Zhejiang Forestry College. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-06-24.