Trees of the USRC
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Tree Walk
The USRC is blessed with a fine variety of many beautiful trees to enjoy and our Member, Dr Gordon Maxwell, has identified a good sample of our trees the USRC is fortunate to be custodians of. Take the time to read their descriptions and it will enhance your next visit to our Club! To see some of these wonderful trees in the Club's grounds, why not use the tree walk map to guide you on your tree walk? You can download the map by clicking on the link here or by clicking on the image. |
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Acknowledgment: Maxwell, GS & Leung, Sze Ming,Kat (2011), Trees of the United Services Recreation Club.
ISBN 978-988-15517-1-9, Pub. Gordon Maxwell. Printed Impressions Design & Print Ltd.
ISBN 978-988-15517-1-9, Pub. Gordon Maxwell. Printed Impressions Design & Print Ltd.
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1. Hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) Fa Kei Charm (花旗杉)
This handsome tree belongs to the gymnosperms, a group of seed plants which have “naked seeds” and at one time, some 250 million years ago (Before Present or BP), they dominated the floras of the world. Known as Hoop pine in English, it is great to have such a precious representative of these ancient seed plants right here in the grounds of our USRC. Our grounds are decorated with two more gymnosperms, Japanese Podocarpus LA and Chinese Arborvitae Wk. From 250 million years BP to about 140 million years BP trees like these (not these precise species) once ruled the plant world on planet Earth when dinosaurs were king amongst the animals. Imagine that! Perhaps stand beside the Hoop pine, look at the trunk, see its dark almost blackish brown bark, feel its rough, cracked texture, then close your eyes and imagine a dinosaur rubbing its scales beside the same tree! Can you? Exciting and inspiring thought.
Hoop pine displays small, spirally arranged, firm to touch, incurved, stalk less leaves armed with a sharp point. Strong seasonal monsoons stop Hoop pines in Hong Kong from reaching for the sky to touch 45m in height but the trunk still manages to display the hoop-like circular bands which give the inspiration for the name "Hoop pine". Don't forget to stand beneath our Hoop pine and imagine the bygone Age of Dinosaurs.
This handsome tree belongs to the gymnosperms, a group of seed plants which have “naked seeds” and at one time, some 250 million years ago (Before Present or BP), they dominated the floras of the world. Known as Hoop pine in English, it is great to have such a precious representative of these ancient seed plants right here in the grounds of our USRC. Our grounds are decorated with two more gymnosperms, Japanese Podocarpus LA and Chinese Arborvitae Wk. From 250 million years BP to about 140 million years BP trees like these (not these precise species) once ruled the plant world on planet Earth when dinosaurs were king amongst the animals. Imagine that! Perhaps stand beside the Hoop pine, look at the trunk, see its dark almost blackish brown bark, feel its rough, cracked texture, then close your eyes and imagine a dinosaur rubbing its scales beside the same tree! Can you? Exciting and inspiring thought.
Hoop pine displays small, spirally arranged, firm to touch, incurved, stalk less leaves armed with a sharp point. Strong seasonal monsoons stop Hoop pines in Hong Kong from reaching for the sky to touch 45m in height but the trunk still manages to display the hoop-like circular bands which give the inspiration for the name "Hoop pine". Don't forget to stand beneath our Hoop pine and imagine the bygone Age of Dinosaurs.
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2. Camel’s foot tree (Bauhinia variegata) Kung Fun Yang Tai Gap (宮粉羊蹄甲)
Bauhinia variegata, our Camel's Foot Tree, is a colourful companion to its sister species, B. Blakeana. USRC coffee shop diners can admire its foliage and resilient trunk as they let their eyes rest on the filtered sun-light diffusing through radiant green leaves just beside the coffee-club windows.
Unlike the Hong Kong Orchid Tree, the Camel's Foot Tree prefers to produce its floral display of gently painted pink-on-white flowers in spring. These flowers are often fertile and can yield blackish, bean like, quite long seed pods which hang from branches like a Bauhinia version of "Doug Gok” (long bean).
There is some variation in flower colour with white dominating over rosy-pink and this variation is captured in the scientific name Bauhinia variegata.
Bauhinia variegata, our Camel's Foot Tree, is a colourful companion to its sister species, B. Blakeana. USRC coffee shop diners can admire its foliage and resilient trunk as they let their eyes rest on the filtered sun-light diffusing through radiant green leaves just beside the coffee-club windows.
Unlike the Hong Kong Orchid Tree, the Camel's Foot Tree prefers to produce its floral display of gently painted pink-on-white flowers in spring. These flowers are often fertile and can yield blackish, bean like, quite long seed pods which hang from branches like a Bauhinia version of "Doug Gok” (long bean).
There is some variation in flower colour with white dominating over rosy-pink and this variation is captured in the scientific name Bauhinia variegata.
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3. Ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia) Muk Ma Wong (木麻黃)
This sometimes massive tree has the names Ironwood, She-oak, Horsetail Tree and Ru. Ironwood is well named: this tree is tough and can cope with almost all Hong Kong conditions. At the USRC it is tall and could be mistaken for a pine tree because it bears needle-like branchlets that resemble a well-worn horsetail.
Around the club, say near the upper car park, this tree brings a hint of the seaside for one can also meet this strong plant on the sand of foreshores and beaches around Hong Kong's extensive coastline. Casuarina is, in fact, native to Northern Australia but is popular throughout the Asia-Pacific probably because of its hardiness and salt-tolerance.
A good student might ask his parents, his Por Por or his teacher, “why is Ru or She-oak so tough, so hardy?” This is a very good question and part of the answer lies in the leaves, which are minute (a few millimeters in length) and sit as mere scales around the nodes of thin, ribbed, needle-like, green branchlets. Such structures; tiny leaves and needle-thin branchlets, help to conserve water and enable Ru to cope with life in sand. The other part of our answer to tough old Ru, lies in its super-hard wood. When I have tried to chop Ironwood with an axe, the axe bounces off! In remote coastal corners of Hong Kong, such as Sai Wan near Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung East Country Park, Ru weathers typhoons. And has done so here at our USRC too.
The unusual features of Ru don't stop at its leaves and wood. The flowers, too, are curious with separate male and female flowers (most plants have both sexes integrated within the same flower). Such flowers are described as unisexual. In addition, the flowers are small with minimum decoration (the opposite of our beautiful Bauhinia’s). Yes, we could say that old Ru invests most of its biological resources into being big and strong. Ironwood lives up to its name!
This sometimes massive tree has the names Ironwood, She-oak, Horsetail Tree and Ru. Ironwood is well named: this tree is tough and can cope with almost all Hong Kong conditions. At the USRC it is tall and could be mistaken for a pine tree because it bears needle-like branchlets that resemble a well-worn horsetail.
Around the club, say near the upper car park, this tree brings a hint of the seaside for one can also meet this strong plant on the sand of foreshores and beaches around Hong Kong's extensive coastline. Casuarina is, in fact, native to Northern Australia but is popular throughout the Asia-Pacific probably because of its hardiness and salt-tolerance.
A good student might ask his parents, his Por Por or his teacher, “why is Ru or She-oak so tough, so hardy?” This is a very good question and part of the answer lies in the leaves, which are minute (a few millimeters in length) and sit as mere scales around the nodes of thin, ribbed, needle-like, green branchlets. Such structures; tiny leaves and needle-thin branchlets, help to conserve water and enable Ru to cope with life in sand. The other part of our answer to tough old Ru, lies in its super-hard wood. When I have tried to chop Ironwood with an axe, the axe bounces off! In remote coastal corners of Hong Kong, such as Sai Wan near Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung East Country Park, Ru weathers typhoons. And has done so here at our USRC too.
The unusual features of Ru don't stop at its leaves and wood. The flowers, too, are curious with separate male and female flowers (most plants have both sexes integrated within the same flower). Such flowers are described as unisexual. In addition, the flowers are small with minimum decoration (the opposite of our beautiful Bauhinia’s). Yes, we could say that old Ru invests most of its biological resources into being big and strong. Ironwood lives up to its name!
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4. Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis) Pok Shu (朴樹)
The Chinese hackberry is a real local with strong Chinese connections, being found in most regions of China. This attractive deciduous tree likes to display its small com pact flowers in spring on bare, leaf less branches before the new leaves unfold.
The leaves are oval shape, half a hand length in size and with a margin displaying two edges. The top half is gently toothed while the lower leaf has a smooth entire edge.
Despite the smallness of the flowers, the Chinese hackberry produces conspicuous fruits which present a panorama of colours from green, orange-red to black while maturing.
I have seen smart birds such as the Black-necked Starling (Sturnus Nigricollis) visiting this living fruit shop to sample the natural food rewards of this hardy shade tree popular in parks and green corners around urban Hong Kong. If you are observant, quiet and lucky you too may see birds in our Celtis Sinensis. Try to name them and become an urban bird expert. To help you become good at birds, I suggest you obtain Dr Fiona Lock's attractive and helpful book entitled “Appreciating Wild Birds”. By "wild", Dr Lock does not mean dangerous. No, she means free - not in a cage. With this book in your hand and "Trees of the USRC" in your pocket, you could become another much needed natural historian even while you live in the built up districts of ultra-urban Hong Kong. Yes, our USRC is a special place. Great opportunities in Natural History await your attention.
The Chinese hackberry is a real local with strong Chinese connections, being found in most regions of China. This attractive deciduous tree likes to display its small com pact flowers in spring on bare, leaf less branches before the new leaves unfold.
The leaves are oval shape, half a hand length in size and with a margin displaying two edges. The top half is gently toothed while the lower leaf has a smooth entire edge.
Despite the smallness of the flowers, the Chinese hackberry produces conspicuous fruits which present a panorama of colours from green, orange-red to black while maturing.
I have seen smart birds such as the Black-necked Starling (Sturnus Nigricollis) visiting this living fruit shop to sample the natural food rewards of this hardy shade tree popular in parks and green corners around urban Hong Kong. If you are observant, quiet and lucky you too may see birds in our Celtis Sinensis. Try to name them and become an urban bird expert. To help you become good at birds, I suggest you obtain Dr Fiona Lock's attractive and helpful book entitled “Appreciating Wild Birds”. By "wild", Dr Lock does not mean dangerous. No, she means free - not in a cage. With this book in your hand and "Trees of the USRC" in your pocket, you could become another much needed natural historian even while you live in the built up districts of ultra-urban Hong Kong. Yes, our USRC is a special place. Great opportunities in Natural History await your attention.
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5. Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) Zeong/ Cheung (樟)
Our tall, majestic Camphor tree here at the USRC would be equally at home in a rural village landscape in a far corner of Hong Kong. Indeed, these large, evergreen, fragrant trees are the landmark of fung shui wood land groves offering character, protection and welcome services to “their” villages. Some studies (see our bibliography) have shown that trees such as Cinnamomum camphora serve as heritage resources, semi-sacred groves and living links with the ancient woodlands which once blessed southern China. They are, in a word, key components of “cultural woods” or forests.
You may ask, "Why would Hong Kong village people like Camphor trees so much?” This is a very good question, to which there is a very good answer. Here is at least part of the answer: Camphor tree is outstandingly resistant to decay. So, village people would value such a tree as a symbol of longevity, health and incorruptibility. Sometimes camphor wood was used to make carvings of temple gods. Another questioner might say, “Hey this is not so good, because it means that a Camphor tree must be cut down for wood.” Yes, this would be a good deduction but tree felling (cutting) was done according to strict rules. Trees selected for woodwork required careful consideration, prayers and felling was only done on an auspicious day. This may all sound a bit superstitious and old fashioned. But think carefully. It may appear to be superstition. On close study, however, it was, in fact, a nice blend of culture and science. Many of Hong Kong's remaining fung shui village woodlands have stood the test of time and have a history going way, way back before the current, formal age of ecological awareness and “green” fashion. When one looks deeply into traditional Chinese village culture, one finds elements of ecology which existed long before the words and formal sciences of ecology and conservation were invented!
To have a tree of this status here in the Club grounds is a precious asset, for it is a living reminder of an aspect of cultural forestry that should be treasured. Clearly, Cinnamomum camphora is much, much more than a mere tree in a green island surrounded by a vertical landscape of concrete, glass and neon lights. Let's now highlight some of the outstanding botanical attributes of Camphor tree.
The leaves are alternate, a bit leathery to touch and around 7-10 cm long. Some leaves display a wavy edge and some replace their dark green upper and whitish lower surfaces with a display of red or orange red come the autumn. Perhaps their most attractive and memorable gift to us is the unique fragrance of camphor oil. This oil is a family feature too, since all members of the family to which Cinnamonum camphor belongs (the Lauraceae) make “camphor” and deposit this scent throughout the entire plant – leaves, wood and roots. The wood yields beautiful furniture and repels insect pests. Remarkable tree indeed!
The flowers of Camphor tree are not showy, being small (3mm long), greenish white or yellow and arriving in April or May. By late summer or mid-autumn, the flowers are re placed by small round fruit which is green when immature but deep purple when ripe.
The trunk is decorated with a distinctive, deeply furrowed bark.
Our tall, majestic Camphor tree here at the USRC would be equally at home in a rural village landscape in a far corner of Hong Kong. Indeed, these large, evergreen, fragrant trees are the landmark of fung shui wood land groves offering character, protection and welcome services to “their” villages. Some studies (see our bibliography) have shown that trees such as Cinnamomum camphora serve as heritage resources, semi-sacred groves and living links with the ancient woodlands which once blessed southern China. They are, in a word, key components of “cultural woods” or forests.
You may ask, "Why would Hong Kong village people like Camphor trees so much?” This is a very good question, to which there is a very good answer. Here is at least part of the answer: Camphor tree is outstandingly resistant to decay. So, village people would value such a tree as a symbol of longevity, health and incorruptibility. Sometimes camphor wood was used to make carvings of temple gods. Another questioner might say, “Hey this is not so good, because it means that a Camphor tree must be cut down for wood.” Yes, this would be a good deduction but tree felling (cutting) was done according to strict rules. Trees selected for woodwork required careful consideration, prayers and felling was only done on an auspicious day. This may all sound a bit superstitious and old fashioned. But think carefully. It may appear to be superstition. On close study, however, it was, in fact, a nice blend of culture and science. Many of Hong Kong's remaining fung shui village woodlands have stood the test of time and have a history going way, way back before the current, formal age of ecological awareness and “green” fashion. When one looks deeply into traditional Chinese village culture, one finds elements of ecology which existed long before the words and formal sciences of ecology and conservation were invented!
To have a tree of this status here in the Club grounds is a precious asset, for it is a living reminder of an aspect of cultural forestry that should be treasured. Clearly, Cinnamomum camphora is much, much more than a mere tree in a green island surrounded by a vertical landscape of concrete, glass and neon lights. Let's now highlight some of the outstanding botanical attributes of Camphor tree.
The leaves are alternate, a bit leathery to touch and around 7-10 cm long. Some leaves display a wavy edge and some replace their dark green upper and whitish lower surfaces with a display of red or orange red come the autumn. Perhaps their most attractive and memorable gift to us is the unique fragrance of camphor oil. This oil is a family feature too, since all members of the family to which Cinnamonum camphor belongs (the Lauraceae) make “camphor” and deposit this scent throughout the entire plant – leaves, wood and roots. The wood yields beautiful furniture and repels insect pests. Remarkable tree indeed!
The flowers of Camphor tree are not showy, being small (3mm long), greenish white or yellow and arriving in April or May. By late summer or mid-autumn, the flowers are re placed by small round fruit which is green when immature but deep purple when ripe.
The trunk is decorated with a distinctive, deeply furrowed bark.
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6. Tangerine tree (Citrus reticulata) Gum Gat (柑橘)
Citrus reticulata is the Tangerine tree; small, sometimes spiny but producing the highly desirable, juicy, tangerine orange. No one is sure exactly where Tangerine trees originated but the most popular guess is S.E. Asia although some authorities place its original home as Cochin, on the south west coast of India. Today, the Mandarin orange tree is extensively cultivated in most tropical and subtropical locations around the world.
The leaves are beautifully elliptic in shape – almost like the perfect text book leaf geometry. Both leaf and flower of Tangerine enhance our sense of smell with an aromatic oil; the tangerine sensation!
Technically the fruit is a berry with colours ranging from orange to yellow to greenish and a loose skin that is easy to peel. Both fruit pulp and skin are useful as food and flavouring.
The trunk displays an attractive mid-brown bark with a smooth texture broken only by vertical growth wrinkles.
Citrus reticulata is the Tangerine tree; small, sometimes spiny but producing the highly desirable, juicy, tangerine orange. No one is sure exactly where Tangerine trees originated but the most popular guess is S.E. Asia although some authorities place its original home as Cochin, on the south west coast of India. Today, the Mandarin orange tree is extensively cultivated in most tropical and subtropical locations around the world.
The leaves are beautifully elliptic in shape – almost like the perfect text book leaf geometry. Both leaf and flower of Tangerine enhance our sense of smell with an aromatic oil; the tangerine sensation!
Technically the fruit is a berry with colours ranging from orange to yellow to greenish and a loose skin that is easy to peel. Both fruit pulp and skin are useful as food and flavouring.
The trunk displays an attractive mid-brown bark with a smooth texture broken only by vertical growth wrinkles.
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7. Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa) (榕樹/ 細葉榕) Yung Shu/ Sai Yip Yung
Many people, both Club Members and visitors alike, who walk past the magnificent Chinese Banyan tree that graces the footpath above the bowling green and below the tennis courts, have been impressed by this fabulous Fig.
The Chinese Banyan is not famous for its wood as was Camphor tree. Banyan wood is regarded as poor. It is the total tree that is famous and is even worshipped by villages. An Earth God shrine is often placed at the feet of Banyan, Why, you might well ask, would practical village people in Hong Kong worship a tree that yields undesirable wood? Why is Banyan selected as a fung shui tree and typically placed at a prime position in the village landscape?
One outstanding reason is Banyan's toughness. It is typhoon tolerant, with a growth form and architecture that can withstand whatever nature can throw at it. Witness its massive trunk entwined with vigorous aerial roots and buttresses extending like fixed, wooden elephant trunks from the tree base. This bio-engineering alone is an inspiration. Added to the shape is Banyan's ability to grow almost anywhere: from rock and retaining wall faces and even cliff edges exposed to salt-laden winds from the sea. Yes, Banyan can survive in the poorest of soil and withstand salt – not many so-called land plants can do that!
Chinese village people respected such a tree and were happy to meet at its feet, to talk, think and pray. Beneath Banyan a wide, expansive ever green canopy provided a green umbrella, offering shelter from sun and rain. We could say that Ficus Microcarpa performed many functions all of which earned love and respect from people in traditional New Territories rural villages. Today, the Age of Ecology is upon us. Has Banyan's days of usefulness become more historical than relevant to modern times? No, we do not think so! Indeed, a big Banyan is an eco-treasure trove. Can you imagine why? Try. Yes, its figs feed birds and bats, its massive canopy provide shelter and nesting sites for urban and rural birds. Its entwined aerial roots, trunk, branches and dense evergreen foliage are, in a word, a habitat. Lizards and frogs can find a home and epiphytic ferns and mosses a safe surface on which to live. Some biologists would even go further and argue that the bountiful Banyan is an ecosystem itself.
We can't give such attention to detail to all our trees as we have done here for Banyan, but a tree as impressive as this has earned many words of praise, don't you think?!
Let's complete our Banyan story with a quick review of its leaves, flowers, fruit and bark.
Banyan's leaves are small (~ 7cm long) when compared to its brother fig species, Ficus Elastica. In texture, the leaves are firm, smooth and lack conspicuous veins.
Banyan makes minute flowers almost continuously. They are hidden, like those of fig's generally, inside a fig. Interestingly these figs contain male, female and gall flowers...and the resident wasp pollinators. Not many trees can make flowers almost the year round. Our tough Banyan can! Mature fruit figs are yellow or pale red when ripe and appear on the edges of branches.
The bark is smooth when compared to, say, Camphor Tree but if a human hand slides across the bark surface it can create the feeling of touching the skin of a shark.
Next time you walk beneath the shade of the Banyan tree say, “Lei Ho” and give it a friendly pat with your hand.
Many people, both Club Members and visitors alike, who walk past the magnificent Chinese Banyan tree that graces the footpath above the bowling green and below the tennis courts, have been impressed by this fabulous Fig.
The Chinese Banyan is not famous for its wood as was Camphor tree. Banyan wood is regarded as poor. It is the total tree that is famous and is even worshipped by villages. An Earth God shrine is often placed at the feet of Banyan, Why, you might well ask, would practical village people in Hong Kong worship a tree that yields undesirable wood? Why is Banyan selected as a fung shui tree and typically placed at a prime position in the village landscape?
One outstanding reason is Banyan's toughness. It is typhoon tolerant, with a growth form and architecture that can withstand whatever nature can throw at it. Witness its massive trunk entwined with vigorous aerial roots and buttresses extending like fixed, wooden elephant trunks from the tree base. This bio-engineering alone is an inspiration. Added to the shape is Banyan's ability to grow almost anywhere: from rock and retaining wall faces and even cliff edges exposed to salt-laden winds from the sea. Yes, Banyan can survive in the poorest of soil and withstand salt – not many so-called land plants can do that!
Chinese village people respected such a tree and were happy to meet at its feet, to talk, think and pray. Beneath Banyan a wide, expansive ever green canopy provided a green umbrella, offering shelter from sun and rain. We could say that Ficus Microcarpa performed many functions all of which earned love and respect from people in traditional New Territories rural villages. Today, the Age of Ecology is upon us. Has Banyan's days of usefulness become more historical than relevant to modern times? No, we do not think so! Indeed, a big Banyan is an eco-treasure trove. Can you imagine why? Try. Yes, its figs feed birds and bats, its massive canopy provide shelter and nesting sites for urban and rural birds. Its entwined aerial roots, trunk, branches and dense evergreen foliage are, in a word, a habitat. Lizards and frogs can find a home and epiphytic ferns and mosses a safe surface on which to live. Some biologists would even go further and argue that the bountiful Banyan is an ecosystem itself.
We can't give such attention to detail to all our trees as we have done here for Banyan, but a tree as impressive as this has earned many words of praise, don't you think?!
Let's complete our Banyan story with a quick review of its leaves, flowers, fruit and bark.
Banyan's leaves are small (~ 7cm long) when compared to its brother fig species, Ficus Elastica. In texture, the leaves are firm, smooth and lack conspicuous veins.
Banyan makes minute flowers almost continuously. They are hidden, like those of fig's generally, inside a fig. Interestingly these figs contain male, female and gall flowers...and the resident wasp pollinators. Not many trees can make flowers almost the year round. Our tough Banyan can! Mature fruit figs are yellow or pale red when ripe and appear on the edges of branches.
The bark is smooth when compared to, say, Camphor Tree but if a human hand slides across the bark surface it can create the feeling of touching the skin of a shark.
Next time you walk beneath the shade of the Banyan tree say, “Lei Ho” and give it a friendly pat with your hand.
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8. Pond spice (Litsea glutinosa) Sarn Go (潺槁)
Litsea glutinous or Pond spice is a tree capable of reaching 15m or more and, as a tree included in fung shui woods, has several uses. Traditional village culture made wise, sustainable use of Pond spice as wood for furniture and extracted a bio-medicine from the bark of the root and leafy shoots to make a cooling agent. Occasionally, a slightly sticky fluid was obtained by soaking thin slices of wood in water, which could be applied as hair dressing.
Interestingly, Pond spice has male and female flowers kept on separate trees, those of both sexes are small and lack petals being greenish in colour except for flashes of yellow as the male parts develop.
Leaves are simple with rounded tips, dark green above and pale green due to fine hairs below.
The fruit is small, round dark coloured berry, but may not always develop unless both male and female trees are available.
Litsea glutinous or Pond spice is a tree capable of reaching 15m or more and, as a tree included in fung shui woods, has several uses. Traditional village culture made wise, sustainable use of Pond spice as wood for furniture and extracted a bio-medicine from the bark of the root and leafy shoots to make a cooling agent. Occasionally, a slightly sticky fluid was obtained by soaking thin slices of wood in water, which could be applied as hair dressing.
Interestingly, Pond spice has male and female flowers kept on separate trees, those of both sexes are small and lack petals being greenish in colour except for flashes of yellow as the male parts develop.
Leaves are simple with rounded tips, dark green above and pale green due to fine hairs below.
The fruit is small, round dark coloured berry, but may not always develop unless both male and female trees are available.
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9. Chinese fan-palm (Livistona chinesis) Po Kwai (蒲葵)
Livistona chinesis has two attractive non-scientific names: Chinese fan palm and fountain palm. Which do you prefer? Both convey nice ideas about this slow-growing, hardy, wind tolerant evergreen palm tree.
The trunk is stout, cylindrical and made distinctive by rings of leaf scars left by many years of fallen leaves.
Leaves are huge and spirally positioned in a dense cluster at the top of the trunk. Although each leaf is divided into many long, fine hanging tips from the flat undivided central portion, collectively each leaf often expands to 50cm or more to look like a fan. The leaf stalks or petioles are long too and often spiny towards the base.
At only 0.4cm long, the flowers of fountain palm are tiny and while not showy are efficient and bisexual, giving rise to small, black, oval fruit.
Landscape garden designers love Chinese fan palm, for few parks would look complete without this garden icon.
Livistona chinesis has two attractive non-scientific names: Chinese fan palm and fountain palm. Which do you prefer? Both convey nice ideas about this slow-growing, hardy, wind tolerant evergreen palm tree.
The trunk is stout, cylindrical and made distinctive by rings of leaf scars left by many years of fallen leaves.
Leaves are huge and spirally positioned in a dense cluster at the top of the trunk. Although each leaf is divided into many long, fine hanging tips from the flat undivided central portion, collectively each leaf often expands to 50cm or more to look like a fan. The leaf stalks or petioles are long too and often spiny towards the base.
At only 0.4cm long, the flowers of fountain palm are tiny and while not showy are efficient and bisexual, giving rise to small, black, oval fruit.
Landscape garden designers love Chinese fan palm, for few parks would look complete without this garden icon.
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10. Slash pine (Pinus massoniana) Ma Mei Chung/ San Chung (馬尾松/ 山松)
Pinus massoniana or Chinese red pine is our large, erect evergreen conifer. It is the only native pine tree in Hong Kong. Chinese red pine is part of the South China flora and is popular in local afforestation.
The leaves are needles around 10 -18 cm in length and come in bundles of two; a distinctive feature enabling foresters to distinguish Pinus massoniana from the introduced (exotic) pine tree, P. Elliotii, if considered along with the pine cones. Chinese red pine has cones which are 5-8 cm in length, whereas P. Elliotti has cones some 6cm longer at 14cm.
Pine trees do not produce flowers in the strict sense of the word. Cones are a better term. Both tiny male and large female cones are produced. It is in the more woody, larger female cone that winged seeds are developed.
The bark of Chinese red pine is reddish-brown, deeply cracked and can be shed in quite large flaky portions.
At times the old female cones can fall from the high upper branches of Red pine, so it is wise to be aware of this, especially on a windy day.
Pinus massoniana or Chinese red pine is our large, erect evergreen conifer. It is the only native pine tree in Hong Kong. Chinese red pine is part of the South China flora and is popular in local afforestation.
The leaves are needles around 10 -18 cm in length and come in bundles of two; a distinctive feature enabling foresters to distinguish Pinus massoniana from the introduced (exotic) pine tree, P. Elliotii, if considered along with the pine cones. Chinese red pine has cones which are 5-8 cm in length, whereas P. Elliotti has cones some 6cm longer at 14cm.
Pine trees do not produce flowers in the strict sense of the word. Cones are a better term. Both tiny male and large female cones are produced. It is in the more woody, larger female cone that winged seeds are developed.
The bark of Chinese red pine is reddish-brown, deeply cracked and can be shed in quite large flaky portions.
At times the old female cones can fall from the high upper branches of Red pine, so it is wise to be aware of this, especially on a windy day.
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11. Frangipani (Plumeria rubra var. acutifolia) Wong Fa Kai (Gai) Dan Fa (黃花雞蛋花)
This is Frangipani, a native of tropical America and now selected as a popular ornamental with a perfumed, fragrant flower.
The flowers are displayed in decorative clusters on the ends of branches. The individual flowers have beautifully positioned petals which are white merging into a golden yellow central zone. The petals overlap to enhance the appeal.
Leaves, too, are distinctive with a sharp tip, firm texture and dark green except where conspicuous veins radiated out from a light yellow mid rib. Despite their tough texture, Frangipani is deciduous and sheds its leaves for winter.
Plumeria rubra var. acutifolia is a genetic variety within the main species, Plumeria rubra. The latter has red flowers but our variety (var.) has the stunning white + golden yellows and a sharper end to the leaf. The term, acutifolia, means sharp-ended leaf.
Please don't pick the flowers when they arrive in summer. Be patient, one or two will fall at your feet on a summer's day especially after heavy rain.
This is Frangipani, a native of tropical America and now selected as a popular ornamental with a perfumed, fragrant flower.
The flowers are displayed in decorative clusters on the ends of branches. The individual flowers have beautifully positioned petals which are white merging into a golden yellow central zone. The petals overlap to enhance the appeal.
Leaves, too, are distinctive with a sharp tip, firm texture and dark green except where conspicuous veins radiated out from a light yellow mid rib. Despite their tough texture, Frangipani is deciduous and sheds its leaves for winter.
Plumeria rubra var. acutifolia is a genetic variety within the main species, Plumeria rubra. The latter has red flowers but our variety (var.) has the stunning white + golden yellows and a sharper end to the leaf. The term, acutifolia, means sharp-ended leaf.
Please don't pick the flowers when they arrive in summer. Be patient, one or two will fall at your feet on a summer's day especially after heavy rain.
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12. China doll (Radermachera sinica) Choy Dau Shu (菜豆樹)
Meet China doll, a tree with an outstanding growth from that could easily resemble a one-legged, huge model of a China doll. A lot depends on your imagination. Some observers see a giant sized feather duster. Others see a tree manicured by a landscape architect. But the shape of China doll is the work of nature.
The leaves have drip-tips, again hinting at tropical rainforest connections. Indeed in terms of design, these firm v-shaped leaves could be used as sugar or salt dispensers. They may rarely see such a use. This design neatly directs heavy rain water on a groundward journey and, collectively, the dense mop of foliage would achieve this aim most efficiently.
The trunk is circular and erect and protected by a bark texture which would easily open a wound in an unprotected hand that was trying to climb a China doll. Don’t run into China doll chasing a tennis or basketball!
Updated on 2 Nov, 2020
Meet China doll, a tree with an outstanding growth from that could easily resemble a one-legged, huge model of a China doll. A lot depends on your imagination. Some observers see a giant sized feather duster. Others see a tree manicured by a landscape architect. But the shape of China doll is the work of nature.
The leaves have drip-tips, again hinting at tropical rainforest connections. Indeed in terms of design, these firm v-shaped leaves could be used as sugar or salt dispensers. They may rarely see such a use. This design neatly directs heavy rain water on a groundward journey and, collectively, the dense mop of foliage would achieve this aim most efficiently.
The trunk is circular and erect and protected by a bark texture which would easily open a wound in an unprotected hand that was trying to climb a China doll. Don’t run into China doll chasing a tennis or basketball!
Updated on 2 Nov, 2020