Torreya californica
Torreya californica subsp. var. | California nutmeg, California Nutmeg Yew | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Torreya californica is species of conifer endemic to California, occurring in the Pacific Coast Ranges and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is commonly known as California Torreya or California Nutmeg (although not closely related to true nutmeg).
It is an evergreen tree growing to 15-25 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 0.5-1 m (exceptionally 2 m); the crown is conical in overall shape, with whorled branches. The leaves are needle-like, stiff, sharp pointed, 3-5 cm long and 3 mm broad; they are arranged spirally but twisted at the base to lie flat either side of the shoots. The male (pollen) cones are 5-7 mm long, grouped in lines along the underside of a shoot. The female (seed) cones are single or grouped 2-5 together on a short stem; minute at first, they mature in about 18 months to a drupe-like structure with the single large nut-like seed 2.5-4 cm long surrounded by a fleshy covering, dark green to purple at full maturity in the fall.
Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture |
---|
Torreya californica, Torr. (T. Myristica, Hook. f. Tumion californicum, Greene). California Nutmeg. Tree, attaining 70 or occasionally 100 ft., with spreading, slightly pendulous branches, forming a pyramidal or, in old age, round-topped head: bark grayish brown, tinged with orange: lvs. linear, slightly falcate, acuminate, lustrous and dark green above, 1 – 3 1/2 in. long: fr. oblong-oval or oval, light green, streaked with purple, 1-1 1/2 in. long. Calif. CH
|
Cultivation
- Do you have cultivation info on this plant? Edit this section!
Propagation
- Do you have propagation info on this plant? Edit this section!
Pests and diseases
- Do you have pest and disease info on this plant? Edit this section!
Species
Gallery
Branch; PAN Botanical Garden in Warsaw, Poland
Branch; PAN Botanical Garden in Warsaw, Poland
Branch; PAN Botanical Garden in Warsaw, Poland
References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
External links
- w:Torreya californica. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Torreya californica QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)