Cephalotaxus sinensis

(Rehder & E. H. Wilson) H. L. Li

Chinese plum yew

Taxaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds 2,726 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Cephalotaxus sinensis is a species of coniferous shrub or small tree in the family Taxaceae. It is native to central and southern China. Some botanists consider Cephalotaxus koreana and C. sinensis to be synonymous with Cephalotaxus harringtonii.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It can grow to 12 m tall. The trunk can be 1.2 m across.

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Edible Uses

The fruit is fairly large, approximately 25mm x 17mm. No further details are available, though the plant is closely related to C. harringtonia, whose fruit is edible raw when fully ripe. The fruit does not always ripen in Britain; before full ripeness it has a strongly unpleasant resinous flavour that coats the mouth and can persist for hours. The seed of this species is also likely to be edible, though more research is needed.

Medicinal Uses

Extracts from the plant have shown anticancer activity. The branches, roots, leaves and seeds are a source of numerous alkaloids used in the treatment of leukaemia and lymphosarcoma.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. It grows in mountain conifer forest between 600-3,000 m in China. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Taiwan,

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, where it should germinate the following spring. A hard seedcoat can delay germination, particularly if seed is not sown fresh. Stored seed should be cold-stratified before sowing in a cold frame in spring; germination can take 18 months or more. Prick out seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on under cover for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Greenwood cuttings of terminal shoots can be taken in August or September in a humid cold frame, though this method is difficult.

Other Uses

Very tolerant of pruning, this plant makes an excellent hedge in shady positions. The wood is used to make furniture, farm implements, crafts and utensils.

Production

Flowering occurs in March to June and seeds mature in July to November.

Notes

There are about 10 Cephalotaxus species. Also put in the family Cephalotaxaceae.

Synonyms

Several

Also Known As

Baigeiguo, Bizishu, Shuibai, Shui bai zi, Sunguo

References (4)

Kang, Y., et al, 2012, Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys on the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine; 9:26
Kang, Y., et al, 2014, Wild food plants used by the Tibetans of Gongba Valley (Zouqu country, Gansu, China) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 10:20
Lloydia 16(3):162. 1953
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/