四川红杉 chuan hong shan

Larix griffithii J. D. Hooker var. mastersiana (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Silba.

Trees to 25 m tall; trunk to 0.8 m d.b.h.; bark grayish brown or dark brown, irregularly and longitudinally fissured; branchlets pendulous; long branchlets yellowish brown or brown, turning yellowish gray or dark gray, initially puberulent; short branchlets 3-4 mm in diam., densely brownish yellow pubescent; winter buds ovoid-orbicular. Leaves linear, 1.2-3.5 cm × ca. 1 mm, keeled on both sides. Seed cones brownish purple, maturing brown, cylindric-ellipsoid, 2.5-4 × 1.5-2 cm. Seed scales cordate or obovate-reniform, 0.8-1.1 × 1-1.3 cm at middle of cones, densely brown pubescent abaxially, apex emarginate. Bracts exserted, dark brown-purple, broadly lanceolate, obviously reflexed, 1.1-1.5 cm. Seeds light gray, obliquely obovoid, 7-9 mm including wing. Pollination Apr-May, seed maturity Oct.

* Mountains; 2300-3500 m. Sichuan

An endangered species. The timber is used for construction, pit props, railway sleepers, and making furniture, and the bark yields tannins. The species is also used for afforestation.