Description of Plant

Leaf: Fan-shaped, slightly thickened and wavy on the broad edge. 2.5-5 cm in length and 4-7.5 cm in length. Leaves are in a cluster of 3-5 with fine forking parallel veins but no mid-vein. They are a dull light green that turn yellow and shed in the fall.

Flower: None

Fruit: None

Twig: Light green to light brown, stout and long with crowded leaf scars.

Bark: Gray and becoming deeply furrowed.

Seeds and Male Cone: Seeds and cones are found on separate trees in the spring. The seeds are 2.5 cm in length and elliptical in shape. They are naked and yellowish with a thin juicy pulp and large edible kernel. The pollen cones are 19mm in length.

Form: A deciduous tree with a straight trunk and an open pyramid shaped crown. The crown becomes wide-spreading and irregular with age

Discussion of the Plant

This tree is known as a living fossil and is related to the conifers. It is the only survivor of its ancient and formally wide-spread ancestor. This hardy tree is resistant to smoke, dust, wind, insect pests and disease. The seeds of the tree are eaten in the Orient. The female trees are objectionable because of the liter of seeds which smell like rancid butter and should not be touched because the smell will linger for a long time.

Copyright

© Sue Grabowski, Gail Slowinski, Carl Schurz High School 2003

References

Coombes, Allen, J, Smithsonian Handbook of Trees, Dorling Kindersley, London, 2002.

Little, Elbert, L., Field Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 1980.

Symonds, George, W.D., The Tree Identification Book, Quill Publishing, New York, N.Y. 1958.