Practical
Plants

Torreya grandis

Chinese Nutmeg Tree

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Torreya genus in the family Cephalotaxaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Torreya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
25 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Wind
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - roasted[11][12][13][2][5][10]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[10].

Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers are anthelmintic and carminative[8]. The seed is anthelmintic, antitussive, laxative and peptic[8].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Laxative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil is extracted from the aril (fruit)[10]. The wood is used in constructing buildings, bridges, and furniture[10].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - C. and E. China.
Habitat
Woodlands, 1000 - 1600 metres[3]. Mountains, open valleys, often by streams, on yellow, red, and dark soils at elevations of 200 - 1400 metres[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some of the seed should germinate in the following spring though much of it might take another 12 months. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and can take 18 months or more to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as growth is observed and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least the next couple of winters, making sure to pot them on into larger pots as and when required. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer when the plants are at least 20cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe shoots in late summer[1]. Cuttings do not grow well[4]. Layering.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, tolerating some lime[1]. Requires a sheltered position and either high humidity or a moist riverside soil[7]. Dislikes wind exposure[7]. Tolerates woodland shade very well[7]. Requires hot, very humid summers for best growth[7]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it only succeeds outdoors in the milder areas of the country[1]. It succeeds outdoors at Kew[4], a tree was 8 metres tall in 1970[6]. The seed takes two summers to mature[9]. The edible seed of this very ornamental evergreen tree is often sold in local markets in China. Closely related to T. nucifera[7]. Plants are dioecious so both male and female plants are required if seed is to be produced. Occasional trees are monoecious with dioecious branches.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  6. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  9. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  10. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  13. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

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