Pseudotsuga brevifolia / Duanye huangshan

Pseudotsuga brevifolia, first described by W.C. Cheng and L.K. Fu in 1975 is also known as 短叶黄杉 (duanye huangshan) in the Chinese language. It is syonymous with P. sinensis var. brevifolia (Cheng et Fu) Farjon et Silba 1990.

Description. Pseudotsuga brevifolia is an evergreen coniferous tree with brown bark that is scaly and longitudinally fissured. Branchlets are red-dish brown, initially densely pubescent, turning light brown or gray and glabrous or subglabrous in 2nd or 3rd year. Leaves are spirally or irregularly pectinately arranged, linear, 0.28 to 0.8 inches (0.7 - 2 cm) long by 0.08 to 0.12 inch (2 - 3.2 mm) thick, emarginate at the apex. Seed cones are ovoid-ellipsoid or ovoid, 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.7 - 6.5 cm) long by × ca. 1.4 inches (3.4 cm) broad. Seed scales at middle of cones are compressed orbicular-rhombic, 0.9 to 1 inch (2.2 - 2.5 cm) by ca. 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) wide, hard and woody, densely pubescent abaxially, base cuneate, but not concave at the sides. Bracts are reflexed, with narrowly triangular cusps, ca. 0.12 inch (3 mm) long, lateral lobes triangular, margin erose. Seeds are irregularly brown spotted, obliquely triangular-ovoid, ca. 0.8 inch (2 cm) long including wing; wing reddish brown, lustrous, ca. 0.4 inch (1 cm), pubescent on its middle part, adaxially.

Distribution. This species is native to China — Guizhou and southwestern Guangxi provinces, typically scattered on south-facing slopes and mountain tops, on calcareous and rocky soils at approximately 4,200 feet (1,300 m) elevation. This species can possibly also be found in northern Vietnam.

Attribution from: Wu Zheng-yi and Peter H. Raven (eds.). © 1999. Flora of China, Volume 4. Beijing: Science Press; St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden.