CRYPTOMERIA

Cryptomeria (literally "hidden parts") is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae, formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae. It includes only one species, Cryptomeria japonica (syn. Cupressus japonica L.f.). It is endemic to Japan, where it is known as sugi(Japanese: 杉). The tree is called Japanese cedar or Japanese red-cedar in English.

Cryptomeria
Plate from "Flora Japonica" by Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini.

Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Cupressaceae
Subfamily:	Taxodioideae
Genus:	Cryptomeria
Species:	C. japonica
Binomial name
Cryptomeria japonica (L.f.) D.Don

Description

It is a very large evergreen tree, reaching up to 70 m (230 ft) tall and 4 m (13 ft) trunk diameter, with red-brown bark which peels in vertical strips. The leaves are arranged spirally, needle-like, 0.5–1 cm (0.20–0.39 in) long; and the seed cones globular, 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) diameter with about 20–40 scales. It is superficially similar to the related giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), from which it can be differentiated by the longer leaves (under 0.5 cm in the giant sequoia) and smaller cones (4–6 cm in the giant sequoia), and the harder bark on the trunk (thick, soft and spongy in giant sequoia).

Plank cut from Cryptomeria japonica.

Cone and seed

Sugi has been so long-cultivated in China that it is thought by some to be native there. Forms selected for ornament and timber production long ago in China have been described as a distinct variety Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis (or even a distinct species, Cryptomeria fortunei), but they do not differ from the full range of variation found in the wild in Japan, and there is no definite evidence the species ever occurred wild in China. Genetic analysis of the most famous Chinese population of Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis in Tianmu Mountain, containing trees estimated to be nearly 1000 years old, supports the hypothesis that the population originates from an introduction.

Cryptomeria japonica: (left) shoot with mature cones and immature male cones at top; (centre) adult foliage shoot; (right) juvenile foliage shoot.

Grown as a bonsai.

Cryptomeria japonica timber is extremely fragrant, weather and insect resistant, soft, and with a low density. The timber is used for the making of staves, tubs, casks, and for building and furniture. Easy to saw and season, it is favoured for light construction, boxes, veneers and plywood. Wood that has been buried turns dark green and is much valued. Resin from the tree contains cryptopimaric and phenolic acid. 

Biology

Cryptomeria grow in forests on deep, well-drained soils subject to warm, moist conditions, and it is fast-growing under these conditions. It is intolerant of poor soils and cold, drier climates.

Cryptomeria is used as a food plant by the larvae of some moths of the genus Endoclita including E. auratus, E. punctimargo and E. undulifer.

Sugi (and hinoki) pollen is a major cause of hay fever in Japan.

Mechanical properties

In dry air conditions, the initial density of Japanese cedar timber has been determined to be about 300–420 kg/m3. It displays a Young's modulus of 8017 MPa, 753 MPa and 275 MPa in the longitudinal, radial and tangential direction in relation to the wood fibers.

Cultivation

Cryptomeria japonica is extensively used in forestry plantations I n Japan, China and the Azores islands, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree in other temperate areas, including Britain, Europe, North America and eastern Himalaya regions of Nepal and India. In the hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim, it is called dhuppi and the tall trees yield a light, soft wood that is extensively used for making planking for houses.

The cultivar 'Elegans' is notable for retaining juvenile foliage throughout its life, instead of developing normal adult foliage when one year old (see the picture with different shoots). It makes a small, shrubby tree 5–10 m (16–33 ft) tall. There are numerous dwarf cultivars that are widely used in rock gardens and for bonsai, including 'Tansu', 'Koshyi', 'Little Diamond', 'Yokohama' and 'Kilmacurragh.'

A forestry plantation of Cryptomeria.

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's, Award of Garden Merit;

• Cryptomeria japonica
• 'Bandai-sugi'
• 'Elegans Compacta'
• 'Globosa Nana'
• 'Vilmoriniana'

The wood is pleasantly scented, reddish-pink in colour, lightweight but strong, waterproof and resistant to decay. It is favoured in Japan for all types of construction work as well as interior panelling etc. In Darjeeling district and Sikkim in India, where it is one of the most widely growing trees, C. japonica is called Dhuppi and is favoured for its light wood, extensively used in house building.

Its introduction in the Azores islands to be used commercially, resulted in the destruction of much of the original, now threatened, native laurel forest which affected an entire complex environment threatening many other species such as the priolo.

Symbolism

Great sugi of Kayano.

Sugi is the national tree of Japan, commonly planted around temples, and shrines, with many hugely impressive trees planted centuries ago. Sargent (1894; The Forest Flora of Japan) recorded the instance of a daimyō (feudal lord) who was too poor to donate a stone lantern at the funeral of the Shogun'Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) at Nikkō Tōshō-gū, but requested instead to be allowed to plant an avenue of sugi, so that "future visitors might be protected from the heat of the sun". The offer was accepted; the avenue, which still exists, is over 65 km (40 mi) long, and "has not its equal in stately grandeur".

Sugi avenue at the Togakushi shrine in Nagano.

Cryptomeria japonica - MHNT.

References

1. ^ Conifer Specialist Group (2000). Cryptomeria japonica. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
2. ^ "Cupressaceae Rich. ex Bartling 1830". The Gymnosperm Database. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
3. ^ "Cryptomeria japonica". Natural Resources Conservation Service, PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
4. ^ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original, xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
5. ^ Chen, Y.; Yang, S. Z.; Zhao, M. S.; Ni, B. Y.; Liu, L.; Chen, X. Y. (2008). "Demographic Genetic Structure of Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis in Tianmushan Nature Reserve, China". Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 50 (9): 1171–1177. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7909.2008.00725.x. PMID 18924282.
6. ^ "Cryptomeria jponica", (PDF). World Agroforestry Centre. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
7. ^ Flora of China, http://www.efloras.org.
8. ^ ^a b B. Anshari, Z.W. Guan, A. Kitamori, K. Jung, I. Hassel, K. Komatsub (2010). "Mechanical and moisture-dependent swelling properties of compressed Japanese cedar". Construction and Building Materials 25 (4): 1718–1725. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.11.095.
9. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica". Retrieved 18 June 2013.
10. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Bandai-sugi'". Retrieved 18 June 2013.
11. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Compacta'". Retrieved 18 June 2013.
12. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana'".Retrieved 18 June2013.
13. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana'". Retrieved 18 June 2013.
14. ^ Sargent, Charles Sprague (1893). "Notes on the Forest Flora of Japan". Garden and Forest 6 (296): 442–443{{inconsistent citations}}

External Links

• USDA ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network
• USDA NRCS Plants Database
• Cryptomeria japonic, Morton Arboretum acc. 560-82*11 & 12
• USDA Forest Service Fact Sheet ST-219 Japanese Cedar (pdf)
• Conifers Around the World: Cryptomeria japonica - Sugi.

- Wikipedia