Biology:Taxus sumatrana
| Taxus sumatrana | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Cupressales |
| Family: | Taxaceae |
| Genus: | Taxus |
| Species: | T. sumatrana
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| Binomial name | |
| Taxus sumatrana (Miquel) de Laub.
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Taxus sumatrana, or the Sumatran yew, is a large evergreen shrub and one of the eight species of yew. Its taxonomic namesake is indicative of the species being found in Indonesia (specifically, the island of Sumatra); however, T. sumatrana is also found in a number of South and Southeast Asian countries, including parts of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China , India , Indochina, Nepal, Pakistan , the Philippines , Taiwan, and Tibet.[2]:351 Given this broad geographical range, it is also known as the Taiwan yew, the Chinese yew, as well as the East Himalayan yew.[3] Plants of the World Online recognizes T. sumatrana as a synonym of Taxus wallichiana.[4]
T. sumatrana is typically found at elevations ranging from 400 to 3,100 m[5] and mainly in subtropical forests or on highland ridges. It is a government-protected species in Taroko National Park in Taiwan.
Appearance
Taxus sumatrana is a wide-trunked, bushy shrub that will eventually develop into a tree, attaining an average height of 14 m (approx. 45 feet). Its leaves are around 1.2–2.7 cm long and 2–2.5 mm wide (around 1”x1”), growing in two ranks along the branches and abruptly spiraling into an apex at the tip.[5] The foliage a pale yellow-green colour on the topside, with light green underneath. Its bark is grey-red which exfoliates in irregular, 1.5 mm (half an inch) thick flakes, which leave yellowish scars on the trunk almost immediately upon cutting.[5]
The Chinese yew has fleshy seeds that ripen into a red colour 6 mm long by 5 mm wide with flesh 4 mm thick.[2]:350–351
Uses
The wood is suitable as timber, but it grows very slow to be financially viable.[2]:351
On the Indian Subcontinent, the oil of T. sumatrana is traditionally used to mark a red tilaka on the foreheads of Brahmins. Chinese yews are also used for the crafting of clogs, whip handles, bed frames and bows (archery).
References
- ↑ "Appendices | CITES". https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Markgraf, F. (1948). "Taxaceae". Flora Malesiana 4 (1): 347–351. https://repository.naturalis.nl/pub/532519.
- ↑ Richter, H.G., Gembruch, K., and Koch, G (2014). "CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval". https://www.delta-intkey.com/citeswood/en/www/taxtaspp.htm. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ↑ "Taxus sumatrana (Miq.) de Laub.". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:828370-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 de Laubenfels, Miquel Taxus sumatrana, 1978, link retrieved on March 10, 2007
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q1073864 entry
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