Plant of the month March 2017

Cunninghamia lanceolata
Family: Cupressaceae
Origin: China
Accession: 1979
Location: Garden of Evolution

C. lanceolata is a conical evergreen tree with softly spined, needle-like leaves which spiral around the stem, bearing two greenish-white stomatal bands beneath. Cones are small, spherical and inconspicuous. The tree tends to sucker around the base and grow in a multi-trunked form. It is a prized timber tree in China, producing highly durable scented wood, and is also grown as an ornamental tree reaching 15-30m in height. It was named after Dr. James Cunningham, an East India Company surgeon at Amoy, China, who introduced it to cultivation in 1702.