Cercidiphyllum is a genus containing two species of plants, both commonly called katsura. They are the sole members of the monotypic family Cercidiphyllaceae. The genus is native plant to Japan and China and unrelated to Cercis (redbuds).
Description
The
type species,
Cercidiphyllum japonicum, can reach in height, and is one of the largest hardwoods in Asia. The other species,
Cercidiphyllum magnificum, is much smaller, rarely reaching over in height.
Cercidiphyllum produces spurs along its twigs. These are short
Plant stem with closely spaced leaves. The
foliage is dimorphic. According to a recent description "short shoots bear broadly cordate or reniform, palmately veined leaves with
crenate margins; long shoots bear
Leaf shape to broadly
Leaf shape leaves with entire or finely serrate margins."
[Peter K. Endress. 1993. "Cercidiphyllaceae" pages 250-252. In: Klaus Kubitzki (editor). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. volume II. Springer-Verlag: Berlin; Heidelberg, Germany.] Leaf size varies from 3–8 cm long and 3–5.5 cm broad. The genus is
plant sexuality, having separate male and female trees. The small inconspicuous
are produced in early spring and wind-pollinated; the
fruit is a cluster of 2-4 small pods, each pod 1–2 cm long with numerous small, flattened and winged
. The fruits mature in autumn and release their seeds in autumn through winter.
The leaves have a strong, sweet smell in the fall, described as caramel or Madeira cake-like. The smell comes from a combination of maltol and a sugary compound in the leaves and is strongest when they are brown.
Nomenclature
Katsura (カツラ) is the Japanese name for the tree.
The scientific name
Cercidiphyllum refers to the close resemblance of the leaves to those of
Cercis (redbuds); these two unrelated genera can however be distinguished easily as redbud leaves are alternate, not opposite.
Species
The two species are:
-
Cercidiphyllum japonicum. Throughout the range of the genus. Typically a multi-stemmed tree to 40–45 m tall in the wild, though typically smaller in cultivation. Bark rough, furrowed. Leaves smaller, not over 4.5 cm long and 3.2 cm broad; falling soon after leafing out in spring. Seed winged only at lower end. Plants from China were at one time separated as C. japonicum var. sinense, but no consistent difference between Japanese and Chinese origins has been found.
-
Cercidiphyllum magnificum. Endemic to central Honshū, where it grows at higher altitudes than C. japonicum. A small tree, not more than 10 m tall. Bark smooth. Leaves larger, up to 8 cm long and 5.5 cm broad; stipules persistent. Seed winged at both ends.
Cultivation
Katsura is grown as an
ornamental tree for its delicate heart-shaped leaves and bright autumn colour, a mix of bright yellow, pink and orange-red. Where conditions are suitable, it is fast-growing, but it is very sensitive to
drought and needs deep, permanently moist soil. Under drought conditions, the species will
abscission its leaves; however refoliation may occur once water is made available. Of particular interest is the scent produced by the leaves in the autumn, resembling burnt brown sugar or cotton candy. Trees in cultivation, like those in natural environments, tend to sucker from the base when young and become multi-stemmed at maturity; pruning to maintain a single stem is not advised.
Within Cercidiphyllum japonicum, several with pendulous branches are grown for their unique weeping habit. Two general types exist. Those with a strong central leader, or excurrent growth, are all one clone originating in Morioka City, Japan. This cultivar is known as 'Morioka Weeping' and can reach over in height. The other type fails to form a central leader and is rounded in habit. There are several clones of this, including 'Amazing Grace' and 'Tidal Wave'.
Both the species C. japonicum[[1]] and the weeping form C. japonicum f. pendulum have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Uses
Katsura wood is often used to make gobans, i.e. boards for the game Go.
Fossil record
The genus is known from fossils at the end of the
Cretaceous (
Maastrichtian) of North America, and the Cenozoic of North America, Europe and Asia.
Gallery
File:Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum Trunk Bark 2000px.jpg| Cercidiphyllum japonicum Trunk bark
File:Cercidiphyllum japonicum JPG01b.jpg| Cercidiphyllum japonicum leaves
File:Great katsura of wachi01s3000.jpg|"great Katsura of Wachi"
File:Cercidiphyllum japonicum JPG01d.jpg| Cercidiphyllum japonicum in the autumn
Sources
External links
