Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Synonyms
Family
Ornamntal - It is cultivated as an ornamental tree for its attractive foliage and pyramidal shape. Wood - Construction: The tree produces high-quality wood used in construction, furniture, and crafting. Cultural/Religious - It holds deep Cultural/Religious significance in Japan and is frequently planted in temple grounds and gardens.
Japan
It grows in moist, well-drained soils in warm temperate rainforests at altitude up to 1800 m asl.
Is the national tree of Japan, prized for its durable timber, ceremonial significance near temples and essential oils.
It is an evergreen tree that grows to a height of 35-50 m and attains a bole diameter of 1-3 m.
Stems (trunks) are straight and massive, with reddish-brown to gray bark that develops vertical fissures with age. The branching pattern is irregular, with branches spreading outwards and upsweeping towards the crown.
Leaves are small, scale-like, and arranged in overlapping spirals along the twigs. They are dark green on the upper surface with a white stomatal band on the underside. Leaves are pressed against the twigs, giving the foliage a dense, feathery appearance.
They are unisexual (separate male and female cones) and appear on the same tree. Male cones are small, yellow clustered at the tips of branches. Female cones are small and green, maturing into woody seed cones.
Seeds are flattened, irregularly ovate, and measure 4-5 mm long by 3 mm wide. They have two wings of unequal width (1-1.5 mm) that encircle the seed like a strip.
Male cone: February-March Female cone: February-March Seed maturation: Next March onward