The genus Nothotsuga is not recognised in the Flora of China, where this taxon is treated as Tsuga longibracteata W.C.Cheng. However, there are several distinctive characters in both male and female cones not shared by other species of Tsuga in Asia or North America that appear to justify generic recognition. Its phylogenetic position based on both morphological and DNA data confirms this taxonomy[].

Common Name:

General Information

Nothotsuga longibracteata is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall. The bole can be up to 100cm in diameter[].
In China this species is considered to be a desirable forest tree suitable for afforestation. Its use as a timber tree must be limited due to its rarity[]..
Nothotsuga longibracteata has a narrow ecological niche and a scattered, fragmented distribution. Past logging and general deforestation has had an impact on this naturally rare species and it is likely that this reduction is close to the thresholds for listing as threatened. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southeastern China.

Habitat

Forming small, pure stands, or in evergreen, broad-leaved, sclerophyllous forests, or mixed, mesophytic forests; growing on steep, sunny mountain slopes and ridges on acidic soils; at elevations from 400 - 1,900 metres, occasionally to 2,300 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m

Cultivation Details

Nothotsuga longibracteata is found in areas of southeast China that experience a cool, temperate, humid climate with abundant rainfall (a mean annual precipitation of 1,000 - 2,000mm) and fog[, ].
The plant is found in the wild on acidic soils[].
In general this plant does not do well in cultivation outside China, where it has proved to be very slow growing and quite difficult to grow well[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

An ideal tree for afforestation in mountains above middle elevations in subtropical regions[].

Other Uses

The timber is used for construction and furniture[].

Propagation

Seed - it germinates better if given a short cold stratification[, ] and so is best sown in a cold frame in autumn to late winter. It can also be sown in early spring, though it might not germinate until after the next winter. If there is sufficient seed, an outdoor sowing can be made in spring[]. Pot-grown seedlings are best potted up into individual pots once they are large enough to handle - grow them on in a cold frame and plant them out in early summer of the following year. Trees transplant well when they are up to 80cm tall, but they are best put in their final positions when they are about 30 - 45 cm or less tall, this is usually when they are about 5 - 8 years old[]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].