Trees have a strong cultural heritage in China, as natural things, they are regarded as beings with another form of life, so different trees also have their own character. When it comes to China's famous trees, most people can think of mahogany, rosewood and other woods that are widely known for their expensive prices, but among them, there is also a tree that stands out from a number of famous trees and has the elegant name of "gentleman in wood", which is also a well-known tree species in China, which is endowed with a deep and rich humanistic emotional color, which is boxwood.
Chinese scientific name: Yellow Poplar
Nicknames: boxwood, melon seed boxwood, brocade yellow poplar
Boundary: The plant kingdom
Phylum: Phylum angiosperm
Order: Dicotyledonous plants
Suborder: Primitive flowers are suborders
Order: Afflicted suborder
Suborder: Suborder Populus
Family: Populaceae
Genus: Boxwood
Species: Boxwood
< h2 class="title-text" > morphological features</h2>
Boxwood is a shrub or small tree, 1–6 m tall; the branches are cylindrical, longitudinally ridged, off-white; the twigs are four-sided, fully covered with short soft hairs or hairless on both sides, with internodes 0.5–2 cm long. Leaf leathery, broad oval, broad inverted ovate, ovate oval or oblong, most 1.5–3.5 cm long, 0.8–2 cm wide, rounded or blunt at the apex, often with small notches, not sharp, rounded or sharply pointed or wedge-shaped at the base, bright leaf surface, raised midrib, often with fine hairs in the lower half, pronounced lateral veins, flat or slightly protruding midrib of the leaf, often densely covered with white short-line stalactites on the midrib, no lateral veins, petiole 1–2 mm long, and hairy on it.
The inflorescence is axillary, cephalic, densely flowered, inflorescence shaft 3–4 mm long, hairy, broadly ovate bracts. Length 2-2.5 mm, somewhat hairy on the back; male flowers: about 10 flowers, no peduncle, outer sepals ovate oval, inner sepals nearly round, 2.5-3 mm long, hairless, stamens with anthers 4 mm long, sterile pistils with rod-like stalks, the ends are expanded, about 2 mm high (about 2/3 of the sepal length or several equal lengths as the sepals); female flowers: sepals 3 mm long, the ovary is slightly longer than the flower post, hairless, the peduncle is thick, the stigma is inverted, and the lower extension reaches the middle of the peduncle.
The capsules are nearly spherical, 6–8 (-10) mm long and 2–3 mm long. The flowering period is in March and the fruiting period is from May to June.
<h2 class="title-text" > habitat</h2>
There are many valleys, streams, and forests, with an altitude of 1200-2600 meters. It is produced in Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces and regions of China, and some of them belong to cultivation. The type specimen was collected from Changyang County, Hubei Province.
< h2 class="title-text" > growth habit</h2>
Boxwood prefers fertile and loose loam soils, slightly acidic soils or slightly alkaline soils can be adapted, and can also grow in calcareous soils. Potted plants can be mixed with an appropriate amount of bran ash from matured pastoral soil or saprophyll soil. It is shade tolerant and light-loving, and can maintain good growth under general indoor and outdoor conditions. In long-term shaded environments, although the leaves can remain emerald green, they can easily lead to long or weak branches. It likes humidity and can tolerate rainy weather for about a month, but avoid long-term accumulation of water. Drought-tolerant, as long as the surface soil or potted soil is not completely dry, there is no abnormal performance. Heat and cold resistance, can withstand summer exposure and cold resistance of about minus 20 degrees Celsius, but should be more ventilated and transparent in summer when high temperature and humidity. The soil requirements are not strict, preferably easy and fertile sandy loam soil, potted plants can also be used with vermiculite, peat or soil, and the alkali resistance is strong. It is extremely tillering, resistant to trimming and easy to form. After the autumn is fully illuminated and dormant, the leaves can turn red.
< h2 class="title-text" > geographical distribution</h2>
It is produced in Jiangsu, Gansu, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong provinces and regions, and some of them belong to cultivation.
Northern warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest area (main cities: Shenyang, Huludao, Dalian, Dandong, Anshan, Liaoyang, Jinzhou, Yingkou, Panjin, Beijing, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Linfen, Changzhi, Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Baoding, Tangshan, Handan, Xingtai, Chengde, Jinan, Dezhou, Yan'an, Baoji, Tianshui).
Southern warm-zone deciduous broad-leaved forest area (main cities: Qingdao, Yantai, Rizhao, Weihai, Jining, Tai'an, Zibo, Weifang, Zaozhuang, Linyi, Laiwu, Dongying, Xintai, Tengzhou, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Anyang, Xi'an, Xianyang, Xuzhou, Lianyungang, Yancheng, Huaibei, Bengbu, Hancheng, Tongchuan).
Northern subtropical deciduous, evergreen broad-leaved mixed forest area (major cities: Nanjing, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Nantong, Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, Hefei, Wuhu, Anqing, Huainan, Xiangfan, Shiyan).
Central subtropical evergreen, deciduous broad-leaved forest area (major cities: Wuhan, Shashi, Huangshi, Yichang, Nanchang, Jingdezhen, Jiujiang, Ji'an, Jinggangshan, Ganzhou, Shanghai, Changsha, Zhuzhou, Yueyang, Huaihua, Jishou, Changde, Xiangtan, Hengyang, Shaoyang, Guilin, Wenzhou, Jinhua, Ningbo, Chongqing, Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Mianyang, Neijiang, Leshan, Zigong, Panzhihua, Guiyang, Zunyi, Liupanshui, Anshun, Kunming, Dali).
Tropical evergreen broad-leaved forest areas in South Asia (major cities: Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Guangzhou, Foshan, Shunde, Dongguan, Huizhou, Shantou, Taipei, Liuzhou, Guiping, Gejiu).
Bilberry leaf boxwood
Bilberry leaf boxwood (variety)
The difference between this and the original variety is that it grows low, densely branched, usually 3–6 mm long between nodes, thick leathery leaves, round or broad oval, sparsely ovate, 9–11 (-12) mm long, 8–10 mm wide, rounded at the apex, often with small notches, rounded at the base, sparsely sharply pointed, strongly curled downwards at the edges, extremely thick leaf epidermis, shiny, no lateral veins (rare lateral veins), wrinkles after drying, capsules ovate spherical, 7–8 mm long, initially short soft hairs, later hairless.
It is produced in Guangdong (Ruyuan County), Hunan (Yizhang County), Jiangxi (Wulao Peak, Lushan), born on rocks or in shrublands at sunrise, at an altitude of 1000-1800 meters. The type specimen was collected from Shililing Ridge, Guangdong.
Small-leaved boxwood
Small-leaved boxwood (variant)
This variant is heterogeneous with the bilberry leaf boxwood, which is thin and leathery, broad oval or broad-ovate, 7-10 mm long and 5-7 mm wide, with no light or light on the leaf surface, and the lateral veins are obviously protruding; the capsule is 6-7 mm long and glabrous (produced in Xingshan, Hubei Province, the twigs are long hairy, and the leaves are often oblong or oblong inverted ovate, the upper pole is bright, and the rest is the same as above).
It is produced in Anhui (Huangshan), Zhejiang (Longtang Mountain), Jiangxi (Lushan Mountain), Hubei (Shennongjia and Xingshan), born on the rock, at an altitude of 1000 meters. The type specimen was collected from Huangshan Mountain.
Dwarf boxwood
Dwarf boxwood (variant)
This variety differs from the bilberry leaf boxwood in that the leaves are extremely small, 5–7 (-9) mm long and 3.5–5 (-6) mm wide, with glabrous fruit. Heterogeneous to the small leaf boxwood, the epidermis is extremely thick, often without lateral veins, wrinkled, spherical capsules, 4 mm long, with very short flower columns.
It is produced in Badong and other counties in western Hubei, China, under the forest of the mountain slope, at an altitude of 2100 meters. The type specimen was collected near Oxdong Bay in Padang.
This variant may also be alpine in the form of small-leaved boxwood.
Middle boxwood
Middle boxwood (variant)
Unlike the original variant, the sterile pistil height and sepal length are 3:2.
It is produced in Taiwan Province of China.
Pointed-leaved boxwood
Pointed-leaved boxwood (subspecies) is also known as long-leaved boxwood
This subspecies is commonly leaf oval lanceolate or lanceolate, 2–3.5 cm long and 1–1.3 cm wide, tapering at both ends, sharp or slightly blunt at the apex, protruding on both sides of the midrib, many and pronounced lateral veins on the leaf surface, and smooth or slightly wrinkled after drying. Inflorescences and flower homogeneous subspecies. The capsules are generally millimeters long and the colonnads are 3 millimeters long.
It is produced in Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi and other provinces and regions of China; on the rocks or shrublands by Shengxi, at an altitude of 600-2000 meters. The type specimen was collected from western Hubei.
<h2 class="title-text" > the main value</h2>
bonsai
Boxwood bonsai trees are beautiful, the leaves are as small as watercress, thick and shiny, evergreen in all seasons, can be viewed all year round. Yangpai boxwood bonsai, the branches and leaves are cut and processed, into a "cloud flake", flat as a cut, and then embellished with mountain stones, elegant and picturesque. The young leaves of the boxwood spring are first sprouted, and the trees are tender and green, which is very pleasing to the eye. The ancients chanted boxwood poems, hurricane ruler boxwood trees, po to the branches of a thousand weights, leaves deep garden emerald, according to the ancient dragon. It depicts the style of boxwood and is an excellent material for family cultivation of bonsai.
gardens
Hedges and large flower beds are often used as hedges and large flower beds, trimmed into spherical or other plastic cultivation, dotted with mountain stones or made of bonsai. The wood is hard and fine, and it is the finest material for the carving process.
woodcarving
Boxwood carving is a kind of round carving art, made from boxwood, originated in Yueqing, has a history of more than 160 years. It is called "Three Eagles of Eastern Zhejiang" together with Dongyang wood carving and Qingtian stone carving. It uses the natural form of boxwood with smooth wood, delicate texture and solemn color. Boxwood carvings are milky yellow, and the longer the time goes on, their color changes from light to dark, giving people a simple and elegant beauty.
Boxwood carving
drugs
Use roots and leaves to enter the medicine. Harvested all year round and dried in the sun.
Functional indications for dispelling wind and dehumidification, performing qi and invigorating blood. It is used for rheumatic joint pain, dysentery, stomach pain, hernia pain, bloating, toothache, bruises, sores and swelling.
Dosage 15-20 g as decoction or soaked wine; externally, mash the affected area.
【Medicine of the Poor】Qing Extinguishing Yin: Root Treatment of Physical Weakness "Gui Yao Compilation".
【Yao medicine】Millennium dwarf, dip: branches and leaves to cure hepatitis eczema, scabies; the whole plant is used for bruises, skin itching "Gui Yao Compilation".
【Yi medicine】 Stems and branches treat stomach cold pain, flatulence, bruises, hernia cold pain "mourning prison".
<h2 class="title-text" > plant culture</h2>
<h2 class="title-text">
</h2>
About boxwood is still a very interesting topic, Li Yu called it a gentleman's style, known as "the gentleman in the wood". In his "Casual Love And Occasional Mail", it is even recorded that "the boxwood is one inch per year, does not overflow a single inch, and shrinks by one inch in leap years, which is the destiny of heaven." In fact, this statement is also mentioned in some other books, such as Su Shi has a poetry cloud: "There are countless grasses and trees in the garden, only the yellow poplar is a leap year." "The Naturalist" even mentioned that someone had done a test, saying that the leap year boxwood was not reduced, but not long. There is also the following record of the harvesting of boxwood in the "Youyang Miscellaneous Tricks": "The world-heavy boxwood is also fireless. Test it with water, sink without fire. Whoever takes this wood will find no star in the obscure night, and if he cuts it down, he will not crack it. These statements have somewhat cloaked boxwood in a mysterious cloak, and added a lot of interest to boxwood works becoming people's beloved playthings.
Because of the slow growth, the wood of the boxwood is extremely delicate, the naked eye can not see the brown eye (pores), but still because the boxwood grows slowly, it is difficult to have large materials, mostly used with high-grade mahogany inlay or processed into extremely fine carvings, there are no large works, and because of this, boxwood carving works are often mistaken by beginners as ivory production. It can be said that boxwood is extremely difficult to make large pieces of furniture, and if it appears, it must be a treasure.
The aroma of boxwood is very light, very light, elegant and not vulgar, is the kind of taste that can be described by fragrance, and can repel mosquitoes, in addition, boxwood also has the effect of sterilization and anti-inflammatory and hemostasis, in the mountain people where boxwood grows, there are picked boxwood leaves for hemostasis and placed boxwood branches to repel mosquitoes and flies.