Litsea tsinlingensis Seeds | Qinling Litsea
LATIN NAME: Litsea tsinlingensis
COMMON NAME: Qinling Litsea
Plant Profile
Qinling litsea is an evergreen tree of the laurel family, described from the Qinling mountains of central China and found in the warm woodlands of Shaanxi, Hubei and Sichuan. It grows to about fifteen metres, with glossy, aromatic, elliptic leaves and small yellow-green flowers in spring.
The fruit is a dark drupe held in a small cup, and it is taken by birds in autumn. The leaves carry the aromatic glands that give the family its smell, and a crushed leaf is enough to identify the tree in the field. The bark is grey-brown and smooth, and the branches are held horizontally.
Science & Biotechnology
The species belongs to the same genus as Litsea cubeba, the source of may chang oil, and its leaves carry the same aromatic compounds. Chinese botanical work has examined its leaf oils and its place in the genus, and forest surveys have recorded it as a component of warm, mixed broadleaf forest.
Its seed is dispersed by birds, which take the drupes in autumn, and its seedlings appear in the shade of the canopy rather than in the open. Taxonomic work on the genus has been complicated by the large number of species and by the way they hybridise where their ranges meet.
Uses & Benefits
The wood is used locally for furniture and for small construction, and the leaves are used as a flavouring in some regional cooking, in the way that other litseas are. In the garden it is grown as an evergreen specimen for a sheltered, warm corner, where its glossy leaves and scent can be appreciated.
It is uncommon in cultivation outside China, and it is mostly grown by collectors of Asian woody plants. Its aromatic leaves are also used in local medicine, where they are applied to bruises and used in decoctions for stomach complaints.
In the Qinling mountains the tree is one of the evergreens that give the forest its colour in winter, and its presence is used by botanists as an indicator of the warm temperate zone. Its fruit is eaten by birds but not by people, and the seed is difficult to store.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed in autumn, cleaning off the flesh, and keep it moist and cool; germination is slow and may take two springs. Grow the seedling in partial shade, in a free-draining, humus-rich mix.
Plant out in a sheltered site with some shade from midday sun, and protect young plants from frost until they are established. Mulch with leaf mould, and keep the ground moist but never waterlogged. In a cool climate it is best grown in a large container and moved under glass for winter, since the leaves are damaged below -5C. Water with rainwater, since the species dislikes lime.
Our Take
A quiet, glossy evergreen with the scent of the laurel family in its leaves, best suited to a warm, sheltered garden. It is a tree for the collector rather than the crowd.
Related Reading
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