Cryptomeria

Image:Cryjap.jpg

Cryptomeria is a very large evergreen tree, reaching up to {{cvt|70|m|ft}} tall and {{cvt|4|m|ft|adj=on}} trunk diameter, with red-brown bark which peels in vertical strips. The leaves are arranged spirally, needle-like, {{cvt|0.5|-|1|cm|in|frac=8}} long; and the seed cones globular, {{cvt|1|-|2|cm|in|frac=4}} diameter with about 20–40 scales. It is superficially similar to the related giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), from which it can be differentiated by the longer leaves (under {{cvt|0.5|cm|in|frac=8|disp=or}} in the giant sequoia) and smaller cones ({{cvt|4|–|6|cm|in|frac=4|disp=or}} in the giant sequoia), and the harder bark on the trunk (thick, soft and spongy in giant sequoia).{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Sugi has been cultivated in China for so long that it is frequently thought to be native there. Forms selected for ornament and timber production long ago in China have been described as a distinct variety Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis (or even a distinct species, Cryptomeria fortunei), but they do not differ from the full range of variation found in the wild in Japan, and there is no definite evidence the species ever occurred wild in China. Genetic analysis of the most famous Chinese population, on Tianmu Mountain, containing trees estimated to be nearly 1000 years old, supports the hypothesis that the population originates from an introduction.{{Cite journal | last1 = Chen | first1 = Y. | last2 = Yang | first2 = S. Z. | last3 = Zhao | first3 = M. S. | last4 = Ni | first4 = B. Y. | last5 = Liu | first5 = L. | last6 = Chen | first6 = X. Y. | doi = 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2008.00725.x | title = Demographic Genetic Structure of Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis in Tianmushan Nature Reserve, China | journal = Journal of Integrative Plant Biology | volume = 50 | issue = 9 | pages = 1171–1177 | year = 2008 | pmid =18924282| doi-access = free }}

Outside of its native range, Cryptomeria was also introduced to the Azores in the mid 19th century for wood production. It is currently the most cultivated species in the archipelago, occupying over 12,698 hectares, 60% of the production forest and about 1/5 of the region's total land area.{{cite web |title=Criptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica) |url=http://www.almanaqueacoriano.com/index.php/recursos/26-floresta/2601-criptomeria-cryptomeria-japonica |publisher=Almanaque Açoriano |access-date=8 February 2021}}{{cite web |title=Azorean Criptomeria - Cryptomeria japonica D. Don |url=http://drrf-sraa.azores.gov.pt/areas/viveiros-florestais/Paginas/Criptomeria_Especies_EN.aspx |publisher=drrf-sraa.azores.gov.pt |access-date=8 February 2021 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807002345/http://drrf-sraa.azores.gov.pt/areas/viveiros-florestais/Paginas/Criptomeria_Especies_EN.aspx |url-status=dead }}

Cryptomeria grows in forests on deep, well-drained soils subject to warm, moist conditions, and it is fast-growing under these conditions. It is intolerant of poor soils and cold, drier climates.{{eFloras|2|200005392|Cryptomeria |first1=Liguo |last1=Fu |first2=Yong-fu |last2=Yu |first3=Robert R. |last3=Mill |volume=4}}

It is used as a food plant by the larvae of some moths of the genus Endoclita including E. auratus, E. punctimargo and E. undulifer. Sugi (and hinoki) pollen is a major cause of hay fever in Japan.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The earliest fossil record of Cryptomeria are descriptions based on vegetative organs of †Cryptomeria kamtschatica of the Late Eocene from Kamchatka, Russia and †Cryptomeria protojaponica and †Cryptomeria sichotensis from the Oligocene of Primorye, Russia. Several fossil leafy shoots of †Cryptomeria yunnanensis have been described from Rupelian stage strata of the Lühe Basin in Yunnan, China.{{Cite journal|author1=Wen-Na Ding |author2=Lutz Kunzmann |author3=Tao Su |author4=Jian Huang |author5=Zhe-Kun Zhou |year=2018 |title=A new fossil species of Cryptomeria (Cupressaceae) from the Rupelian of the Lühe Basin, Yunnan, East Asia: Implications for palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology |journal=Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology |volume=248 |pages=41–51 |doi=10.1016/j.revpalbo.2017.09.003 |bibcode=2018RPaPa.248...41D }}

From the Neogene, Cryptomeria is well represented as seed cones, leafy shoots and wood in the fossil records of Europe and Japan. †Cryptomeria rhenana was described from the early Late Miocene to the Late Miocene of Rhein in Morsbach, Germany, from the Early and Middle Pliocene of Northern Italy, to the Middle Pliocene of Dunarobba, Italy and to the Early Pleistocene of Umbria, Italy. †Cryptomeria anglica was described from the Late Miocene of La Cerdana, Spain, to the Late Middle Miocene of Brjánslækur, Iceland and from the Late Miocene to the early Pliocene Brassington Formation of Derbyshire, England. †Cryptomeria miyataensis was described from the Late Miocene of Akita, Japan. Cryptomeria japonica was described from the Late Miocene of Georgia and from the Pliocene of Duab, Abkhazia. It has also been described from the Pliocene of Honshu, Japan, Late Pliocene of Osaka, Japan and from the Pleistocene of Kyushu, Japan.{{cite journal |title=A new fossil species of Cryptomeria (Cupressaceae) from the Rupelian of the Lühe Basin, Yunnan, East Asia: Implications for palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology |first1=Wen-Na |last1=Ding |first2=Lutz |last2=Kunzmannd |first3=Tao |last3=Su |first4=Jian |last4=Huang |first5=Zhe-Kun |last5=Zhou |journal=Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology |volume=248 |date=January 2018 |pages=41–51|doi=10.1016/j.revpalbo.2017.09.003 |bibcode=2018RPaPa.248...41D }}

File:Cryptomeria japonica01.jpg

Cryptomeria japonica timber is extremely fragrant, weather and insect resistant, soft, and with a low density. The timber is used for the making of staves, tubs, casks, furniture and other indoor applications. Easy to saw and season, it is favoured for light construction, boxes, veneers and plywood. Wood that has been buried turns dark green and is much valued. Resin from the tree contains cryptopimaric and phenolic acid.{{cite web|title=Cryptomeria jponica|url=http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Cryptomeria_japonica.pdf|publisher=World Agroforestry Centre|access-date=4 December 2014}}

The wood is pleasantly scented, reddish-pink in colour, lightweight but strong, waterproof and resistant to decay. It is favoured in Japan for all types of construction work as well as interior panelling, etc. In Darjeeling district and Sikkim in India, where it is one of the most widely growing trees, C. japonica is called Dhuppi and is favoured for its light wood, extensively used in house building.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

In Japan, the coppicing method of daisugi (台杉) is sometimes used to harvest logs.{{cite book |last1=Nōrinshō |first1=S |year=1926 |title=Forestry of the "Sugi" (Cryptomeria Japonica, Don) and the "Karamatsu" (Larix Leptolepis Gord) |publisher=Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry| page=27}}

In dry air conditions, the initial density of Japanese cedar timber has been determined to be about 300–420 kg/m³.

It displays a Young's modulus of 8017 MPa, 753 MPa and 275 MPa in the longitudinal, radial and tangential direction in relation to the wood fibers.{{cite journal

|author1=B. Anshari |author2=Z.W. Guan |author3=A. Kitamori |author4=K. Jung |author5=I. Hassel |author6=K. Komatsub |year= 2010

|title= Mechanical and moisture-dependent swelling properties of compressed Japanese cedar

|journal= Construction and Building Materials

|volume= 25

|issue= 4

|pages= 1718–1725

|doi= 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.11.095

}}

Cryptomeria japonica is extensively used in forestry plantations in Japan, China and the Azores islands, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree in other temperate areas, including Britain, Europe, North America and eastern Himalaya regions of Nepal and India.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The cultivar 'Elegans' is notable for retaining juvenile foliage throughout its life, instead of developing normal adult foliage when one year old (see the picture with different shoots). It makes a small, shrubby tree {{cvt|5|-|10|m|ft|0}} tall. There are numerous dwarf cultivars that are widely used in rock gardens and for bonsai, including 'Tansu', 'Koshyi', 'Little Diamond', 'Yokohama' and 'Kilmacurragh.'{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017):{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 25 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 24 January 2018}}

• C. japonica 'Bandai-sugi'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Bandai-sugi'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/92100/Cryptomeria-japonica-Bandai-sugi/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}
• C. japonica 'Elegans Compacta'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Compacta'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/58692/Cryptomeria-japonica-Elegans-Compacta/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}
• C. japonica 'Elegans Viridis'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/82657/Cryptomeria-japonica-Elegans-Viridis/Details | title = Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans Viridis' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 5 May 2020}}
• C. japonica 'Globosa Nana'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/57064/Cryptomeria-japonica-Globosa-Nana/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}
• C. japonica 'Golden Promise'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/134559/Cryptomeria-japonica-Golden-Promise/Details | title = Cryptomeria japonica 'Golden Promise' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 5 May 2020}}
• C. japonica 'Sekkan-sugi'{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/87694/Cryptomeria-japonica-Sekkan-sugi/Details

| title = Cryptomeria japonica 'Sekkan-sugi' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 5 May 2020}}

• Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiralis' {{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/94935/Cryptomeria-japonica-Spiralis/Details | title = Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiralis' | publisher = RHS | access-date = 5 May 2020}}
• C. japonica 'Vilmoriniana'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/90995/Cryptomeria-japonica-Vilmoriniana/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}}

Sugi is commonly planted around temples and shrines, with many hugely impressive trees planted centuries ago.{{cite book |last = Wilson |first = Ernest Henry |date = 30 December 1916 |title = The Conifers and Taxads of Japan |publisher = Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University |publication-place = Cambridge, Massachusetts |pages = 66–71 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ycU9AAAAYAAJ |isbn = 978-1-169-72192-0}} Sargent (1894; The Forest Flora of Japan) recorded the instance of a daimyō (feudal lord) who was too poor to donate a stone lantern at the funeral of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) at Nikkō Tōshō-gū, but requested instead to be allowed to plant an avenue of sugi, so that "future visitors might be protected from the heat of the sun". The offer was accepted; the Cedar Avenue of Nikkō, which still exists, is over {{cvt|65|km|mi}} long, and "has not its equal in stately grandeur".{{Cite journal| title = Notes on the Forest Flora of Japan | year = 1893 | author = Sargent, Charles Sprague | journal = Garden and Forest | pages = 442–443 | volume = 6 | issue = 296 }}

{{nihongo|Jōmon Sugi|縄文杉}} is a large cryptomeria tree located on Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Japan. It is the oldest and largest among the old-growth cryptomeria trees on the island, and is estimated to be between 2,170{{cite news| title = Vandals damage Japan's World Heritage tree| url = http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2005/05/25/Vandals-damage-Japans-World-Heritage-tree/UPI-55551117011297/| work = UPI NewsTrack| date = 2005-05-25| access-date = 2008-08-25 }} and 7,200 years old.{{cite news| first = Andrew| last = English| title = Hydrogen island| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/15/mfhyd15.xml | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130421063038/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2006/04/15/mfhyd15.xml | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-04-21 | work = The Daily Telegraph | date = 2006-04-15 | access-date = 2008-08-25 }}{{cite journal | author1 = Yamaguchi, H. | author2 = Nishio, S. | year = 1995 | title = Water surrounding Jomon-sugi, a mysterious cedar tree growing in Yakushima Island for 7200 years | journal = Journal of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers | volume = 80 | pages = 86–89 | issn = 0021-468X | language = ja }}

Cryptomeria are often described and referred to in Japanese literature. For instance, cryptomeria forests and their workers, located on the mountains north of Kyoto, are featured in Yasunari Kawabata's famous book The Old Capital.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Cryptomeria-Saint-Gilles.jpg|A forestry plantation

Kayano Ōsugi 20070814.jpg|Great sugi of Kayano

Tree lined path to the Togakushi shrine1.jpg|Sugi avenue at the Togakushi shrine in Nagano

Cryptomeria japonica MHNT.BOT.2010.13.2.jpg|Cross section

Wilsons Stump Yaku cedar 001.jpg|Wilson's Stump was a sugi tree on Yaku Island estimated to be over 2,000 years old when cut

Cryptomeria japonica - JBM.jpg|Grown as a bonsai

{{Div col}}

• Great sugi of Kayano
• Houkisugi at Nakagawa
• Sugi no Osugi
• Jōmon Sugi
• List of superlative trees
• Onbashira
• Magewappa a traditional Japanese wood craft using Cryptomeria

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.conifers.org/cu/cr/index.htm Gymnosperm Database: Cryptomeria]

• Cryptomeria anglica, Boulter and Chaloner, 1968; a fossil species from Pliocene deposits in Derbyshire, England.

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_Japanese_cedar.htm Cryptomeria japonica], Morton Arboretum acc. 560–82*11 & 12
• [http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/CRYJAPC.pdf USDA Forest Service Fact Sheet ST-219 Japanese Cedar] (pdf)
• [http://conifersaroundtheworld.com/blog/cryptomeria-japonica-sugi Conifers Around the World: Cryptomeria japonica - Sugi].

{{Cupressaceae}}

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Category:Cupressaceae

Category:Endemic flora of Japan

Category:Trees of Japan

Category:Trees of mild maritime climate

Category:Near threatened plants

Category:Garden plants of Asia

Category:Ornamental trees

Category:Monotypic conifer genera