Cercidiphyllum
Cercidiphyllum Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Katsura (C. japonicum) trunk and foliage | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Cercidiphyllaceae Engl.[1] |
Genus: | Cercidiphyllum Siebold & Zucc. |
Species | |
The range of Cercidiphyllum. |
Cercidiphyllum is a
Description
The
The leaves have a strong, sweet smell in the fall, described as caramel or Madeira cake-like. The smell comes from a combination of maltol and a sugary compound in the leaves and is strongest when they are brown.[3] In German, Cercidiphyllum trees are named after their scent; Kuchenbaum or Lebkuchenbaum ("pie tree" or "gingerbread tree").[3][4]
Nomenclature
Katsura (カツラ) is the Japanese name for the tree.[5] The scientific name Cercidiphyllum refers to the close resemblance of the leaves to those of Cercis (redbuds); these two unrelated genera can however be distinguished easily as redbud leaves are alternate, not opposite.[citation needed]
Species
The two species are:
- Cercidiphyllum japonicum. Throughout the range of the genus. Typically a multi-stemmed tree to 40–45 m tall in the wild, though typically smaller in cultivation. Bark rough, furrowed. Leaves smaller, not over 4.5 cm long and 3.2 cm broad; stipules falling soon after leafing out in spring. Seed winged only at lower end. Plants from China were at one time separated as C. japonicum var. sinense, but no consistent difference between Japanese and Chinese origins has been found.
- Endemicto central Honshū, where it grows at higher altitudes than C. japonicum. A small tree, not more than 10 m tall. Bark smooth. Leaves larger, up to 8 cm long and 5.5 cm broad; stipules persistent. Seed winged at both ends.
Cultivation
Katsura is grown as an
Within Cercidiphyllum japonicum, several cultivars with pendulous branches are grown for their unique weeping habit. Two general types exist. Those with a strong central leader, or excurrent growth, are all one clone originating in Morioka City, Japan. This cultivar is known as 'Morioka Weeping' and can reach over 25 m (82 ft) in height. The other type fails to form a central leader and is rounded in habit. There are several clones of this, including 'Amazing Grace' and 'Tidal Wave'.
Both the species C. japonicum[6] and the weeping form C. japonicum f. pendulum have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Uses
Katsura wood is often used to make gobans, i.e. boards for the game Go.
Fossil record
The genus is known from fossils at the end of the Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of North America, and the Cenozoic of North America, Europe and Asia.[7]
Gallery
-
Cercidiphyllum japonicum Trunk bark
-
Cercidiphyllum japonicum leaves
-
"great Katsura of Wachi"
-
Cercidiphyllum japonicum in the autumn
References
- .
- ^ Peter K. Endress. 1993. "Cercidiphyllaceae" pages 250-252. In: Klaus Kubitzki (editor). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. volume II. Springer-Verlag: Berlin; Heidelberg, Germany.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ "Lebkuchenbaum (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) im Porträt - Mein schöner Garten". www.mein-schoener-garten.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ "Katsura tree". hosho.ees.hokudai.ac.jp. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
- ^ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=371[permanent dead link]
- PMID 22845876.
Sources
- Andrews, S. (1998). "Tree of the Year: Cercidiphyllum". International Dendrology Society Yearbook. 1997: 17–46.
- Dosmann, M. S. (1999). "Katsura: A review of Cercidiphyllum in cultivation and in the wild". The New Plantsman. 6: 52–62.
- Dosmann, M. S.; Andrews, S. K.; Del Tredici, P.; Li, J. (2003). "Classification and nomenclature of weeping katsuras". The Plantsman. New Series. 2: 21–27.
- Dosmann, M. S.; Iles, J. K.; Graves, W.R. (1999). "Drought avoidance in katsura by drought-induced leaf abscission and rapid refoliation". HortScience. 34 (5): 871–874. .
External links
- Cercidiphyllum images at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Plant Image Database
- Dosman, Michael. "The Katsure Collection." Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University website, Fall 2012. Accessed 1 May 2020.