The Sciadoptiys verticillata is the only member in the family Sciadopityaceae with no living close relatives. Its common name is the Japanese Umbrella Pine because its photosynthetic needles form whorls, resembling the ribs of an umbrella. It is found naturally at an altitude of 500-1000m in areas with high rainfall and humidity, and it is native to central Japan. This conifer is a “living fossil” like the Ginkgo, because very similar plants are known from fossils that date back to the Late Triassic period. In prehistoric times, it could be found across Eurasia and North America.
It can grow up to 30m tall and up to 1m DBH. As mentioned above, the photosynthetic needles of the Sciadoptiys verticillata are arranged in whorls that radiate around a stem. The needles are a dark, glossy green, thick, range from a length of 6cm to 13cm, and have a hard, plastic feel. In addition to these leaves, the tree also has another type of leaf. It has small, scale leaves that are found on the stem and clustered below the whorl of photosynthetic needles. Its bark is reddish brown and sheds as strings. Cones are not usually found on the young trees of this monoecious conifer. In older trees, the pollen cones are 6-12mm, long, and found in clusters that are 1-2cm across at the ends of branches. Seed cones are 4.5-10cm long and 3.5-6.5cm when open. They are green when immature but turn dark brown in 18-20 months as they ripen after pollination.
S. verticillata is a beautiful ornamental tree and is often cultivated in botanical gardens sometimes as a “conservation piece.” In Japan, it is one of the sacred “five trees of Kiso.” Its wood is water-resistant, making it high valued for making boats, while its bark, when prepared as oakum, is used for caulking. However, due to its slow growth and high cost, faster growing trees are favoured to plant in forests. The tree is listed as a vulnerable species.
References
Brand, Mark H. (2001). UConn Plant Database: Sciadopitys verticillata [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/s/sciver/sciver1.html
Earle, Christopher J. (2011). The Gymnosperm Database: Sciadoptiys verticillata [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.conifers.org/sc/Sciadopityaceae.php
Straley, Gerald B. (1992). Trees of Vancouver: A Guide to the Common and Unusual Trees of the City. UBC Press. Vancouver, BC.