Castanopsis kawakamii is a specialty of Taiwan Province Province. Castanopsis kawakamii, also known as "Shenmu" in Taiwan Province Province, is a gymnosperm belonging to Cupressus. Its branches and leaves are a bit like cypress trees that we often see. Castanopsis eyrei is more than 60 meters high and DBH is 6.5 meters. It is another big tree, second only to the "world master" Sequoia in California, USA. There is a giant cypress with a height of 57 meters and a DBH of 6.5 meters on Ali Mountain surrounded by a large forest. The tree is about 3000 years old and has a volume of 504 cubic meters, which is equivalent to the wood volume of several acres of 30-year-old Chinese fir forest. More interestingly, in Chun 'an Township, Miaoli, Taichung, there is a "Shenmu" called Daxueshan No.2, with a height of 55 meters and a bust of 22.7 meters. There is a big hole in the trunk, which can hold a tent for four people. People sit in a tree hole, surrounded by lush mountains, waterfalls and springs, which is both romantic and poetic.

Castanopsis kawakamii is not only tall and majestic, but also a famous longevity tree. Deep in the sea, there are two or three thousand-year-old trees everywhere. For example, in Alishan, there is a red cypress called "Big Shenmu with Eyes", which is 48 meters high and is estimated to be over 4,000 years old. On the road from Xitou to Alishan, there is a "Shenmu" with a life span of 465,438+000 years, which may be the longest known Sabina vulgaris. The longevity of so many "Shenmu" is obviously related to the good protection of virgin forests.

Castanopsis kawakamii is the darling of the forest. It is not only tall and long-lived, but also of excellent material. Its wood material is light and soft, beautiful in color, sapwood is red and yellow, heartwood is yellowish brown, and its aroma is pleasant. Wood has strong moisture resistance and luster after processing. It is the first-class conifer in Taiwan Province Province, and it is a good material for shipbuilding, furniture making and building.

Evergreen trees, up to 57 meters above the ground and 6.5 meters in diameter; Bark is reddish brown and longitudinally split in strips; Branchlets with scales are flat and arranged in a plane. Leaves alternate and opposite, long 1-2 mm, with acute apex; The center of the pair is close, the exposed part is nearly rhombic, with 1 gland points and spire; A pair of boat-shaped edges, folded to cover the edge and lower part of the central leaf, with longitudinal ridges on the back. The leaves above the twig are green and slightly shiny, and the leaves below are covered with white powder. Monoecious, cone solitary lateral branches at the top; Male cones are ovoid or oblong, with 6-8 stamens, alternate and 3-5 anthers; Female cones have 5-7 pairs of scales. The cone is mature in that year, oblong or oblong-ovoid, with a length of 10- 12 mm and a diameter of 6-9 mm; The seed scales are alternate, woody and woody, with a small number of grooves at the top and a slightly concave and pointed center; The seeds are flat, reddish brown when mature, slightly shiny, with narrow wings on both sides.

Distribution and habits:

It is distributed in the mountains in the middle of Taiwan Province Province, China, with Tianshan Mountain, Sanxing Mountain, Taiping Mountain, Baxian Mountain, Big Snow Mountain, Little Snow Mountain, pommel horse, Luchang Mountain, Xiangshan Mountain, Luopu Mountain, Wangduo Mountain, Junkeng Mountain, Luanda Mountain, Alishan Mountain, Taroko Mountain, Wuyun Mountain, Anton Army Mountain, Guanmen Mountain and so on in the north with an altitude of/kloc-0.

Castanopsis kawakamii likes a mild and humid climate. The annual average temperature 10.6℃, monthly average temperature10.8℃, July average temperature 14. 1℃, annual precipitation 4 165 mm, and relative humidity 85%. The soil is well-developed gray brown soil or gray soil, or the parent material is gray sandstone. The salt-based biological circulation in the soil is strong, the topsoil is loose, and the aggregate structure is acidic, with a pH of 5.5-6. Castanopsis kawakamii is usually on the southeast slope of 10-20 degrees, in the weak wind area, or in the valley surrounded by mountains. It is often mixed with Japanese cypress. Taiwan Province (Hayata) Rehd. Platycladus orientalis, or form a pure forest. It is a western species with developed root system and good natural regeneration. Small trees need a certain amount of light and grow faster. The flowering period is from April to May, and the moon fruit matures at 9-65438+ 10.