Distribution and ecological characteristics of Torreya grandis in China

Key words: 
• cash forest /
• Torreya grandis /
• resource distribution /
• ecological characteristics

Abstract: The objective is to get the living condition of Torreya grandis Fort. ex Lindl. (Chinese torreya)to improve its cultivation. Through five years investigation in its distribution areas and the related literatures, the research showed that the natural distribution area of Torreya grandis was the mid and northern sub-tropical belt in China(25- 32N,109- 121E)and covered a vast area of 7 provinces, includingZhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu,Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou, and Hubei. The average temperature of the distributional area was between 15.2 and 18.7℃ ; the absolute low temperature ranged from- 17.0 and- 8.1℃ ; the annual rainfall reached between 1 000- 1 900 mm; and the annual accumulative temperature 10℃ was in the range of 4 758 and 5 940℃ .Vertical distribution variedwithgeographical location. Forinstance, in the mid sub-tropical beltwhenmoving from north to south, T. grandis grew at altitudes of 800- 1 000 m in the Dabie Mountains, 1 200- 1 500 m in the HuangshanMountain and Tianmu Mountain areas, and 1 800- 2 000 m in the Wuyi Mountains. In the high- altitudeareaswith light wind, abundant sunshine, and few cold waves, and where the absolute low temperature was- 18.0 ℃ With an annual accumulated temperature 10℃ of 3 500℃ , T. grandis grew and fruited normally. Additionally, in the Wuyi Mountains of South China although the accumulated temperature 10℃ at 1 800- 2 000 m was only 3 200 ℃ , T. grandis grew tall and fruited normally due to a higher absolute low temperature thatwas over- 15.0℃ . T. grandis thrived best in fertile soil, which in the optimum areas of this study consisted of soilwith rich organic matter; a soil texture of loose, sandy loam to light clay; and pHof 5.2-6.5.[Ch, 3 tab. 27 ref.]