  Foliage of a tree in Sacramento's Capitol Arboretum [C.J. Earle]. | Torreya nucifera (L.) Siebold & Zuccarini 1846Common NamesJapanese: KAYA (4).Taxonomic notesSyn: Taxus nucifera Linnaeus; Podocarpus nucifer Loudon; Caryotaxus nucifera (L.) Henkel & Hochst.; Foetataxus nucifera (L.) Nelson; Tumion nuciferum (L.) Greene; T. ascendens Nakai ex Uyeki; T. fruticosa Nakai; T. igaensis Doi & Morikawa; T. macrosperma Miyoshi; T. nucifera var. articulata Miyoshi; T. nucifera var. radicans Nakai; T. unda Miyoshi (3). Several varieties have been described, and although they are not recognized here (pending further information on intraspecific variation in the species), they are briefly noted below.DescriptionTree:Bark: Branches: Spreading, brown (4). Shoots: Leaves: Linear, 15-25 × 2.2-3 mm, stiff, gradually tapering to a short spinescent apex, abruptly narrowed at subsessile base, deep green and lustrous on ± convex dorsal surface, pale green with 2 narrow pale yello stomatal bands on ventral surface (4). Cones: Cone scales: Pollen cones: Seeds: Narrow-ellipsoid, 2.5 cm long, green with pulple tinge (4). Wood: Similar species: Var. radicans is shrubby, native to Honshu mountains. Var. igaensis has shorter (10-18 mm long), abruptly spinescent leaves, with a shorter (2 cm) seed. It is rare, found only in Iga Province on Honshu (4). RangeJapan (1).Big TreeOldestDendrochronologyEthnobotanyYields edible seeds and cooking oil. Planted as an ornamental in North America and Europe (2).ObservationsRemarksCitations(1) Silba 1986.(2) Matthew H. Hils at the Flora of North America web site. (3) Farjon 1998. (4) Ohwi 1965. |
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