Amentotaxus formosana

Amentotaxus formosana
Amentotaxus formosana underside of foliage showing stomata, Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Cupressales
Family: Taxaceae
Genus: Amentotaxus
Species:
A. formosana
Binomial name
Amentotaxus formosana
H.L. Li

Amentotaxus formosana, the Taiwan catkin yew, is a species of conifer in the family Taxaceae. It is a small tree to 10 m (33 ft) tall, with a slender trunk.[2] It was previously recognised as a variant of Amentotaxus argotaenia.[1]

Amentotaxus formosana is found only in Taiwan where it only occurs in four localities of cloud forest in the Hengchun Peninsula, in the extreme south of the island.[1] IUCN considers A. formosana as critically endangered because of its populations are small and threatened by habitat loss.[1] The populations are characterized by very low levels of genetic diversity.[3]

The wood is used for making furniture and handicrafts, etc., and the species is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental tree.[2]

  1. ^ a b c d Thomas, P. (2013). "Amentotaxus formosana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T31265A2802875. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T31265A2802875.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Fu, L.; Li, N. & Mill, R.R. "Amentotaxus formosana". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  3. ^ Wang, C. T.; Wang, W. Y.; Chiang, C. H.; Wang, Y. N.; Lin, T. P. (1996). "Low genetic variation in Amentotaxus formosana Li revealed by isozyme analysis and random amplified polymorphic DNA markers". Heredity. 77 (4): 388–395. doi:10.1038/hdy.1996.158.