Species Info for Zoo Organization

The following was sent via email:

Can you send me the information about the following species. Their habitat, economic important and other distinguished features.

Pilosocereus royenii (cactus)
Betula albosinensis (silver birch)
Cocos nucifera (coconut palm)
Calamus hookerianus (rattan)
Taiwania cryptomerioides (coffin tree)


Thanks.

Regards.

MARIMUTHU (Marimuthu is a representative of Zoo Outreach Organization

 

The UBC Botanical Garden does not grow Pilosocereus royenii, Cocos nucifera (coconut palm) or Calamus hookerianus (rattan). The following text was prepared for an interpretive sign for the Taiwania cryptomerioides (coffin tree):

Taiwania cryptomerioides - Coffin Tree - Cupressaceae

This native of Taiwan (Formosa) was discovered by Konishi in 1904 on the western slope of Mt. Morrison. There, in its native habitat 1,500-3,500m, Taiwania cryptomerioides may grow to a height of 60 metres, with a trunk up to 9 metres thick-one of the most massive evergreen conifers; but it usually reaches only about 15 metres in cultivation.

Taiwania has been compared both to the genus Cryptomeria (hence the species name) in habit and to Cunninghamia lanceolata in structure (C. lanceolata is growing nearby, a few paces to the west). Taiwania differs from the latter in having 2 seeds rather then 3 to each fertile cone scale. Both male and female cones, about 12mm in size and almost globose in shape, develop at the tips of branches.

Leaves in their juvenile stage resemble those of Cryptomeria, but in the adult stage become thick, leathery and triangular with bands of stomata on all surfaces. Notice the attractively-drooping branchlets, the developing broadly-conical shape and the exfoliating bark of our specimen. It was grown in our nursery from seed collected on the Ali Shan (Taiwan) at 3,500m. Although Taiwania flourishes in a most acid soil, it needs a well drained site with summer heat and shelter.

Taiwania also grows naturally in Burma and S.W. China (Yunnan) where it is known as Taiwania flousiana, the Coffin Tree (referring to its use). But T. flousiana is thought by many to be merely a geographical variation of Taiwania cryptomerioides

photos of Taiwania cryptomerioides