Amentotaxus argotaenia (Hance) Pilg.

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Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Amentotaxus argotaenia' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/amentotaxus/amentotaxus-argotaenia/). Accessed 2024-09-15.

Genus

Amentotaxus

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

References

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Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Amentotaxus argotaenia' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/amentotaxus/amentotaxus-argotaenia/). Accessed 2024-09-15.

The foliage and fruits of Amentotaxus argotaenia are extremely decorative. The aril almost entirely covers the seed. Image R. Unwin.

Shrub or tree to 6(–10) m. Bark flaking, grey-brown, showing reddish orange below. Branches spreading. Branchlets subterete to quadrangular. Leaves thickly coriaceous, linear-lanceolate, 4–8 0.65–1.5 cm, usually straight but occasionally falcate towards tip, apex acute to obtuse, stomatal bands silvery white, 1.2–1.8 mm broad. Male strobili pendulous, in clusters of (one to) two to three (to five), 5–6.5 cm, shortly pedunculate. Fruits 2.5 1.5 cm, pendulous on peduncles to 2 cm, red when immature, becoming purple, the seed protruding slightly from the aril. Li 1952, Luu & Thomas 2004. Distribution CHINA: Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, western Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Zhejiang; VIETNAM. Habitat Wet rocky sites in forest. USDA Hardiness Zone 9–10. Conservation status Vulnerable. Illustration Luu & Thomas 2004; NT147, NT148. Cross-reference K50.

Amentotaxus argotaenia is present in collections throughout our area but is mainly grown under glass, as for example at Edinburgh. There is a very small plant from Sichuan outside at Kew, but it is not thriving. The species was introduced to North America in 1994 by Piroche Plants (2002–2005) but does not seem to have become established in gardens, in our area at least. It is probably better suited to conditions in the southeastern United States.

Amentotaxus argotaenia at Bedgebury National Pinetum, UK, a rather frosty place. Accessioned in 2008 but not planted out until 2020, this single plant has so far grown slowly but happily, in light shade and with good air drainage. July 2024. Image Owen Johnson.

Male strobili of Amentotaxus argotaenia (Kirk Hill Farm, Settrington, North Yorkshire, UK, June 2024). Image John Grimshaw.

A young Amentotaxus argotaenia showing the bold stomatal lines on the leaf undersides that make this plant so sexy (Pan-Global Plants, Gloucestershire, November 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

Foliage on Amentotaxus argotaenia, from Tai Mo Shan, taken from a plant at the Botanische Gärten Universität Bonn, Germany (29 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Lanceolate leaves on Amentotaxus argotaenia (Botanische Gärten Bonn, Germany – 29 April). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Greenish branchlets and leaves with strongly raised midvein on Amentotaxus argotaenia (Botanische Gärten Bonn, Germany – 29 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Bursting buds and leaves lower surface with whitish stomatal bands on Amentotaxus argotaenia (Botanische Gärten Bonn, Germany – 29 April 2019). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.