Torreya grandis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Torreya grandis |
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Torreya
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grandis
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The Torreya grandis, also known as the Chinese nutmeg yew, is a special type of conifer tree. It belongs to either the family Taxaceae or Cephalotaxaceae. This tree can grow very tall, often reaching about 25 meters (82 feet) and sometimes even up to 39 meters (128 feet)!
You can only find Torreya grandis growing naturally in eastern and southeastern China. It lives in coastal areas like Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu, as well as inland provinces such as Anhui, Guizhou, Hunan, and Jiangxi. These trees love mountains and open valleys, especially near streams, at heights between 200 and 1400 meters (650 to 4600 feet) above sea level.
Even though it's called the Chinese nutmeg yew, it's not related to the spice nutmeg or the true yew trees. Its name comes from its edible seeds, which look a bit like nutmeg, and its leaves, which look like those of a yew tree. People use the seeds to make oil. The wood from the tree is strong and used for building things, making furniture, and even for special go boards. You might also see Torreya grandis planted as a beautiful tree in gardens in Europe and North America.
How Europeans Discovered This Tree
People in China have known about and used Torreya grandis for hundreds of years. However, the first European to find this tree was a man named Robert Fortune. He was exploring the mountains of northeast Zhejiang in China. He was looking for seeds, especially those of a tree called the "golden pine-tree" (Larix kaempferi).
During his trip, Robert Fortune first saw two young Torreya grandis trees that were being grown by people. He then found someone to guide him to a valley where older, wild trees were growing. He bought some seeds from these trees and took them back to England. The seeds grew well there, helping to spread the tree to other parts of the world.
A Special Type: Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii
There's a special kind of Torreya grandis called Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii. This particular type has a very long history, going all the way back to the Tang Dynasty in China. Many people believe it first came from the mountains in northeast Zhejiang, just like the wild trees Robert Fortune found.
See also
In Spanish: Torreya grandis para niños
