Pinetum Dan Luscombe, Dendrologist

Larix – The Larches The Larches are probably the best known of the deciduous conifers. They are found growing in the cooler climate of the temperate northern hemisphere and are one of the dominant species in the huge expanse of boreal forest in Canada and Russia. Most of the Larches come from very cold areas and cannot grow in our warmer climate but the species that do are commercially important trees. In autumn, they turn a lovely buttery yellow, Pseudolarix amabilis – Golden Larch but can lose their needles very quickly if The name for this beautiful tree translates the wind gets up. into Pseudo meaning false, Larix meaning Larch and Amabilis meaning loveable In the UK the larch is commonly planted which I think is very apt! Although this tree across the South of England. The species is commonly known as the Golden Larch, used are Japanese Larch and Hybrid it is more closely related to Abies and Larch as these have a higher timber Deciduous Conifers I was amazed when informed by one Cedars. It is both rare in cultivation and yield than European Larch. In 2009, in its native habitat of eastern China. Autumn is coming to a close and of the foresters that all of the trees by Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak thousands of people have walked Marshalls Lake are dying! In fact, they The bright green needles turn a beautiful Death) was unexpectedly found infecting golden yellow in autumn, hence the around the Pinetum enjoying the fantastic are deciduous conifers and every autumn and killing large numbers of Japanese changes in leaf colour on trees like the lose their ‘leaves’. It is true that the common name. Look out for the distinctive Larch trees (Larix kaempferi) in south-west cones that resemble globe artichokes. Liquidambars, Katsura, Maples, Birch majority of conifers are evergreen and out England. This was the first time it had and Sorbus, all beautifully set against of the 8 families, 69 genus, 630 species ever been found anywhere in the world At Bedgebury, we have two 60 year old the evergreen conifers. However, most and 180 varieties and subspecies, there and caused lethal infection (in the form trees that are growing slowly and are people are unaware that some of the are only 5 genera containing 14 species of stem cankers) on a commercially unlikely to reach more than 15m. However best autumn colour at Bedgebury is that are deciduous. All are from the important conifer species. I was lucky enough to see towering actually provided by deciduous conifers. northern hemisphere and all genera mature specimens in the wild at Tianmu can be found at Bedgebury. Shan in Eastern China in 2010.

2 3 Glyptostrobus pensilis Metasequoia glyptosroboides – Chinese Water Fir – Dawn Redwood This is the rarest of the deciduous Fossil records show that Dawn Redwoods conifers, both in the wild and in once blanketed the northern hemisphere cultivation. It is commonly found in but were thought extinct until a chance SE China but whether this is a natural discovery in a remote rural village in population or a planted one is currently south central China in 1941. They were disputed. The only truly wild populations introduced to the West in 1947 and arrived are in Vietnam and Laos and these at Bedgebury in 1950. are under threat from changes to their The Dawn Redwoods superficially resemble habitat. In Vietnam, the few remaining the Swamp Cypress but are easily Taxodium – Swamp Cypress There is an amazing group of Swamp trees are in the middle of a coffee identifiable by their fluted trunk, shaggy The Swamp Cypresses are only found Cypress on the east side of Marshalls plantation and, in Laos, most of the trees light brown bark, elongated cylindrical in South East USA, Mexico and just in to Lake. These were all planted in 1925 and are in an area due to be flooded when cones and pyramid-crown shape. In Guatemala. They are remarkable for their now provide a blaze of vibrant reds and a dam is built. ability to grow in very wet areas. They browns in autumn. In 2006, I was lucky autumn, the beautiful grass green leaves also produce strange ‘knees’ called enough to take part in a seed collecting The International Union for the turn a fantastic pinkish bronze. Conservation of Nature lists Glyptostrobus pneumatophores but the function of these expedition to eastern USA, funded by Since its discovery, the Dawn Redwood as Critically Endangered and states isn’t really known yet. Some think it is to the Friends. We were able to see these has been planted extensively all over the that “Given current trends, this species help get oxygen to the trees roots but it is stunning trees in the wild and make world as an ornamental tree, with the could well become Critically Endangered more likely that it helps in stabilising the valuable seed collections. The seeds most impressive planting in Pizhou City (possibly “Extinct in the Wild”) in the trees in swampy wet ground, such as from this trip were propagated in our where there is a 60km long avenue with near future”. Glytostrobus is related to Mangroves. nursery and are now growing happily one million trees in it! However, it is listed Taxodium and is usually found in wet in the Pinetum. by the IUCN as critically endangered as The Mexican Swamp Cypress is the ground, alongside streams and rivers there so few trees left in its native habitat. National Tree of Mexico and can become but can grow in up to 60cm of water. In a very large tree; there is a very famous warmer climes, it attains a similar stature Former curator of Bedgebury, Chris tree in a church yard in Oaxaca in Mexico to the Taxodiums but in the UK it grows Reynolds, went to the site of the original that has a circumference of 36m! The slowly making a small pyramidical tree discovery in 2008 and reported that the young trees we planted in 2005 have and turns a lovely orangy bronze colour area was now a town and all that some way to go before they get anywhere in the autumn. remained of the forest were the big trees. near this size! Who knows what will become of this majestic tree in the wild? 4 5