| General Description | A large conifer with similarities to the genera Tsuga and Keteleeria. It was believed to be a hemlock when it was first discovered in 1932, but then was further classified into its genus in 1989. Nothotsuga is a monotypic genus. It stands at a mature height of about 30m with stunning brown, cracking bark, and reddish-purple cones. It thrives in acidic soil, hot and humid weather and sits naturally between elevations of 1,000’ to 7,000’. |
| ID Characteristic | The bristlecone hemlock shares many characteristics between the genera
Keteleeria and Tsuga, but there are a few distinct differences that categorized it as its genus. Its cones are larger and upright with protruding bracts and have a purplish red colour which eventually matures into a dark brown. It bears needles in clusters at the ends of its branches which are radially spread. The stomatal lines on the topside and underside of the foliage are also a key difference from its similar genera. Its foliage is a rich green colour contrasted by dark brown/grey bark. |
| Shape | The shape of the bristlecone hemlock is usually upright and somewhat pyramidal, but sometimes shrub-like with a multi-stemmed trunk. The crown grows in conical fashion until it fully matures, where the leader develops into a droopy appearance. Fully mature bristlecone hemlock tops are dense, bushy, and flat. |
| Landscape | Past use of this tree included the use of its lumber in the regions of China where they would construct furniture and structures from it. It is now used in its native regions for afforestation programs. Additionally, it is notably being cultivated as part of the International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP) at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to prevent it from becoming extinct. |
| Propagation | It is noted that the bristlecone hemlock can be successfully cultivated from seed. It helps to give the seed a short cold stratification before germinating. A method to practice could be sowing in a cold frame anywhere between Autumn and late winter. Once seedlings are established, they should be kept in separate pots. It is advised to place them in their final homes when they are roughly 30 – 80 cm tall, just like many trees. This height may not be achieved until the age of 5 or 8 years old. Again, this is a very slow-growing conifer that will hardly display any growth for many years. Given this, the root development will be affected, and they should be kept in a protected area away from lots of wind. |
| Cultivation | A native to the southern regions of China, it grows pleasantly on mountain slopes in cool to sunny and humid climates where there is reoccurring rainfall. It flourishes in acidic soil in full to part sun. This conifer is noted to be difficult to cultivate and very slow growing, as only a limited number of seedlings have been successfully grown. |
| Pests | There are no notable pest or diseases. |
| Notable Specimens | The International Conifer Conservation Programme at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland possesses two collections of seeds for the cultivation project to help revive and protect this threatened species. |
| Habitat | This conifer naturally occurs on sunny mountain slopes where it groups together forming a monoculture. There are times it can be found within a sclerophyllous forest, mesophytic forest, or a mix between the two. The climate ranges from wet and cool to warm and humid. In these regions, there is usually a pleasant amount of rainfall and fog. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Newly formed branchlets are yellowish-brown or reddish-brown which mature into a deeper brown/grey colour and are glabrous. Branching can be somewhat dimorphic with it growing short lateral shoots (up to 1.5 cm in length) that hold little growth of buds and leaves on branchlets. The bark of the fully mature bristlecone hemlock is also dark greyish brown with narrow cracks splitting lengthwise of the trunk. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Buds are grown at the ends of short lateral shoots on branches and are ovoid. The leaf buds are not resinous. Flower buds are singular and grown at the tip of lateral shoots. |
| Leaf Description | The leaves are mainly smooth in appearance but can be slightly scored. They are extended with a petiole of about 1-1.5 mm in length. The blade of each leaf is roughly 2 mm broad and has visible stomatal lines facing toward the stem. The margins of the leaf taper acutely with a faint obtuse shape. |
| Fruit Description | It is a monoecious species. The microstrobili (male cones) are arranged in groups clustered in umbels, and the pollen grains hold paired sacci (air bladders). The megastrobili (female cones) are attached by a peduncle and stand erect at the ends of branches. These are reddish-purple and mature into a deep brown and are on average 4 cm in length by 2 cm in width. The bracts protrude outwards and are subspatulate in shape. The cones are relentless and retain for several years before falling off. It is noted that sometimes, instead of breaking off that they disintegrate entirely. The seeds are triangular-ovoid and small. They are coloured brown, with wings slightly reddish. Seeds will fully mature in the fall around October with pollination taking place from March to April. |
| Colour Description | The foliage begins as a bright to rich green colour, deepening with age. Newly developed branches will dry into a yellow to reddish-brown until maturing into the fixed grey-brown that is shared with the trunk bark. The fruit is purple to red and becomes a deeper brown with maturity. |
| Texture Description | The texture varies between different stages of life. It first starts as dense and shrub-like because of its multi-stemmed growing fashion. Continuing to grow in age, it becomes medium textured with the most density of foliage near the ends of branches. |