Torreya yunnanensis
Yunnan Nutmeg Yew
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Torreya genus in the family Cephalotaxaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cephalotaxaceae
- Genus
- Torreya
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 15 m
- Fertility
- self sterile
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed[6]. No more details are given but it is likely that the seed can be eaten raw or cooked and is rich in oil. An edible oil is obtained from the seed.
- Product or use
- Oil
- Plant part
- Seed
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An oil is extracted from the seed[5]. The high quality timber is used in constructing houses, bridges, and furniture, and for making implements and utensils[5].
- Product or use
- Oil
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Secondary canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China in Yunnan province.
- Habitat
- Coniferous and mixed forests in warm temperate zones, locally a common forest tree, at levations of 1500 - 3400 metres in NW Yunnan[5].
- 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[2]. 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[3]. Dislikes wind exposure[3]. Tolerates woodland shade very well[3]. Requires hot, very humid summers for best growth[3]. A vulnerable species in the wild, where it is at risk of becoming extinct[5]. This species is not hardy in all parts of Britain, but trees can be grown outdoors in the milder parts of the country[6]. The seed takes two summers to mature[4]. There is some confusion over the correct name of this species, with some authorities seeing it as no more than a sub-species of T. fargesii[5]. Plants are dioecious, but sometimes monoecious with dioecious branches. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X