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Scientific name: Pinus morrisonicola Hayata 1908
Synonyms: Pinus formosana Hayata, Pinus hayatana Businský, Pinus parviflora var. morrisonicola (Hayata) C.L.Wu, Pinus uyematsui Hayata
Common names: Taiwan white pine (English), Tai Wan Wu Zhen Song (Chinese)
Description
Trees to 30-35 m tall; trunk to 1.5 m d.b.h., usually a straight, columnar bole. Bark smooth in young trees and in upper part of crown, becoming rough and scaly on trunk, flaking in thin plates, grey to dark grey. Branches whorled in young trees, later spreading and ascending, stem sometimes forked near the top, forming a conical to rounded crown, on exposed sites often flattened and open. Foliage branches slender, new shoots initially yellowish pubescent, soon glabrous or with remnant hairs in grooves, reddish brown. Buds small, ovoid, not resinous, pale brown. Leaves in fascicles of 5, held by deciduous sheaths with soon falling thin scales, persisting 3-4 years, sometimes longer, curved and slightly twisted, 4-9 cm long, slender and flexible, 0.6-1 mm wide, triangular in cross-section, green; stomata in prominent white lines on the two adaxial surfaces; margins minutely serrulate; apex acute. Pollen cones in small clusters near base of new shoots, spirally arranged, ovoid-oblong to cylindrical, 1.5-2.5 cm long, yellow turning light brown. Seed cones in whorls of 3-4 on short, stout, curved peduncles, erect at first, becoming pendulous when growing, (narrowly) ovoid-ellipsoid, 6-11 cm long, green or glaucous, very resinous, with opened scales to 5-6 cm wide, becoming more ovoid. Seed scales thin woody, somewhat flexible, with basal smaller scales mostly recurved and larger scales nearly straight, 3-3.5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide, cuneate from their base; apophyses rhombic, middle portion thickened, longitudinally grooved, becoming lustrous brown; umbo terminal, obtuse, slightly upturned. Seeds ellipsoid-ovoid or narrowly ovoid, 7-10 mm long, 5-6 mm wide; wing 15-20 mm long, 5-8 mm wide, light brown.
The species epithet means 'growing on Mt. Morrison', the highest mountain in Taiwan, now known as Yu-Shan; 300-2,300 m.
Conservation Status
Red List Category & Criteria: Near Threatened
The extent of occurrence (6,898 km²) and the area of occupancy (800 km²) are both within the thresholds to qualify this species for Vulnerable under criterion B. While there is likely to have been some decline in the past resulting from conversion of native forests for plantations and for agricultural purposes, its extent is unknown. The population is not severely fragmented and there is no indication of current or continuing decline. The number of locations is uncertain but likeley to exceed ten. Regeneration is occurring in some areas. On this basis an assessment of Least Concern rather than Near Threatened best reflects its conservation status.
The population trends for this infrequent and scattered species are unknown although there are reports of good regeneration in areas such as those impacted by earthquakes and consequent landslips in recent decades. Pinus morrisonicola occurs in the mountains of Taiwan on rocky ridges and spurs at various altitudes between ca. 300 m and 2,300 m a.s.l. Occasionally it occupies slopes where the forest canopy has been opened, e.g. due to rock slides, so it can compete for a time with broad-leaved trees until the forest succeeds to a closed canopy again.
The species is potentially undergoing some decline at the lower end of its altitudinal range due to the impacts of forestry operations such as the establishment of Cryptomeria plantations. But it is not clear if this is causing a continuing decline and in how many locations this would be.
Taiwan white pine is a minor timber tree for local use, with wood properties similar to those of Pinus parviflora and other E Asian white pines. It is better known in Asian horticulture, especially in the art of bonsai culture, and particularly in China. In Western horticulture it is uncommon and probably often confused with the much more commonly used Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora), to which it is closely related, but differs in the longer leaves and larger seed cones. As an endemic species of Taiwan, it should not be difficult to establish its identity in cultivation, provided that proper records of provenance were kept with the plants in tree nurseries. Reported to be used in Chinese medicine.
Some subpopulations are found within protected areas. Further research is required on this species to assess its conservation status, in particular information is required on any threats and the extent of these and also on population size and trends and the degree of fragmentation.
References
Copyright © Aljos Farjon, James E. Eckenwalder, IUCN, Conifers Garden. All rights reserved.
