Cryptomeria

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
Synonyms
Cryptomeria araucarioides Henkel & W.Hochst. Cryptomeria compacta Beissn. Cryptomeria elegans Jacob-Makoy Cryptomeria fortunei Hooibr. ex Billain Cryptomeria generalis E.H.L.Krause Cryptomeria kawaii Hayata Cryptomeria lobbiana Billain Cryptomeria lobbii (Carrière) Lavallée Cryptomeria mairei (H.Lév.) Nakai Cryptomeria mucronata Beissn. Cryptomeria nana Lindl. & Gordon Cryptomeria nigricans Carrière Cryptomeria pungens Beissn. Cryptomeria variegata Beissn. Cryptomeria viridis Beissn. Cupressus japonica Thunb. ex L.f. Cupressus mairei H.Lév. Schubertia japonica (Thunb. ex L.f.) Jacques Schubertia japonicum (Thunb. ex L. f.) Brongn. Taxodium japonicum (Thunb. ex L.f.) Brongn.

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.

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).

Sugi has been cultivated in China for so long that it is frequently thought 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.

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Wikipedia