Is this torreya or cephalotaxus

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by kitsune, Feb 7, 2008.

  1. kitsune

    kitsune Member

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    My friend from Armenia sent me seeds. He thinks that this is Torreya taxifolia.
    He sent me photo of the plant also. But I suspect that this is not torreya, but a kind of cephalotaxus.
    Could someone identify the species of the plant?
     

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  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Definitely Cephalotaxus harringtonii. Wrong shoot structure for Torreya.

    Very nice specimen, though!
     
  3. kitsune

    kitsune Member

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  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Cone ('fruit') shape is variable within the species, they can be either rounded or acute at the apex. It can even vary a bit within the cones on a single plant.
     
  5. kitsune

    kitsune Member

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    Thanks, Michael! This dispelled my last doubts.
     
  6. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    You're welcome!

    Note though that although this is one of the hardiest (if not the hardiest) Cephalotaxus species, it still won't be hardy outdoors in Ekaterinburg!
     
  7. kitsune

    kitsune Member

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    I see that there is little chances to grow up them outdoors. But I am able to grow only a pair of them indoor. Others will be exposed to our severe winter. I have read that they can grow suckers from roots. If roots survived, they would grow as bushes. Usually snow cover is quite thick, more then 30 cm, I hope that it may protect young plants. Moreover, my garden is placed on the river bank and island, so it has a special microclimate. Usually the river do not become frozen du to thermal discharges from metallurgical works on upstream. So I will try my luck.
    By the way, do you know any discriminates to distinguish immature male and female cephalotaxus plants?
     
  8. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Good luck! If the snow is reliably deep, that might be enough to protect it as a prostrate plant staying below the winter snow cover.

    Sorry, no way of distinguishing male and female plants before cone production starts! Actually, Cephalotaxus is usually only subdioecious, not fully dioecious - plants being mainly one sex but also with some cones of the other sex, often on a single branch.
     

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