This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Torreya nucifera
  • Kaya

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

248px
Niche
  • Secondary canopy
    Secondary canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Partial sun
    Partial sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Torreya nucifera has 0 edible uses listed
Torreya nucifera has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw, cooked or used in confectionery[1][2][3][4]. An agreeable sweet slightly resinous flavour[5]. An aromatic flavour[6], it is much relished and is eaten in quantity[7] though it is said to be laxative if eaten in excess[8]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[1][8][1][2][7][4]. Used in cooking[4].

Unknown part

Oil

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Torreya nucifera.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The seeds are anthelmintic[2][9][7][10]. They are used in the treatment of several parasitic conditions including hookworm, tapeworms, pinworms and roundworms[11]. The plant is anodyne, carminative, digestive, laxative and pectoral[2][9][7][10].

Unknown part

Anodyne
Anthelmintic
Carminative
Digestive
Laxative
Pectoral

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Secondary canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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[5].

Layering.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Torreya nucifera. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, tolerating some lime[1]. Prefers an acid soil[12]. Dislikes wind exposure[12]. Requires a sheltered position and either high humidity or a moist riverside soil[12]. Tolerates woodland shade very well[12]. Requires hot, very humid summers for best growth[12].

Trees are probably not hardy in all parts of Britain, but should succeed quite far north. A tree at Wakehurst Place was 11 metres tall in 1970[13]. A shrub growing in the shade of coniferous trees at Kew was about 2.5 metres tall and 4 metres wide in September 1993[K], it was carrying a very heavy crop of fruit[K]. No fruit was formed in 1994[K]. A specimen at Cambridge Botanical Gardens was 6 metres tall and 6 metres wide, it was carrying an enormous crop of seed in the late summer of 1996[K]. This plant has an excellent potential as a nut crop in Britain[K]. Sometimes cultivated for its edible seed in Japan, the variety 'Shibunashigaya' is considered to be the best for seed production[6]. The seed takes two summers to mature[14].

Plants are dioecious so both male and female plants are required if seed is to be produced. Occasional trees are monoecious with dioecious branches. Solitary trees have been seen on a number of occasions with heavy crops of fertile seed, so it would appear that the tree is not dioecious[K].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Torreya nucifera. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Torreya nucifera.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Torreya nucifera
Genus
Torreya
Family
Cephalotaxaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Medicinal uses
[2][9][7][10][11]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5][15][12]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
partial sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Secondary canopy
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    slow
    Mature Size
    20 x 10 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    monoecious

    "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber (1948-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.5 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    10. ? 10.010.110.2 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila ISBN 92 9061 120 0 (1998-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    13. ? Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO ISBN 0-11-710012-9 (1975-00-00)
    14. ? Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
    15. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-58

    Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-81" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

    "image:Torreya nucifera bgiu.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Torreya_nucifera&oldid=81315"
    Facts about "Torreya nucifera"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyCephalotaxaceae +
    Belongs to genusTorreya +
    Has common nameKaya +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part + and Seeds +
    Has edible useOil + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile + and Wind +
    Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone7 +
    Has imageTorreya nucifera bgiu.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height20 +
    Has mature width10 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnodyne +, Anthelmintic +, Carminative +, Digestive +, Laxative + and Pectoral +
    Has primary imageTorreya nucifera bgiu.jpg +
    Has search nametorreya nucifera + and x +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferencePartial sun +
    Has taxonomy nameTorreya nucifera +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSecondary canopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +