Woody > Tetraclinis > Tetraclinis articulata > Tetraclinis articulata
Tetraclinis articulata
Origin: T. articulata is found natively in south-east Spain, as well as areas of north-west Africa and Malta.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A pretty looking tree. It has a nice colour, very interesting cones, and a typically attractive shape.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Cupressaceae |
| Genus |
| Tetraclinis |
| Species |
| articulata |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 9 - 11 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Greater than 9a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H3 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 1 - 34 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 33.8 - 93.2 |
| Height |
| 6 - 12 m |
| Spread |
| 6 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| T. articulata is a pyramidal tree, with flattened branches and green, scaly leaves. |
| Landscape |
| T. articulata can be used easily as a hedge and windbreak. It can also be used as erosion control, and for screening. |
| Cultivation |
| T. articulata grows best in warmer and more mild climates, in fairly dry areas. It prefers plenty of sun, and is very drought tolerant. It can survive in fairly saline soil. |
| Shape |
| Pyramidal, with a crown that starts out conical, and becomes more irregular as the tree ages without pruning. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| T. articulata can be recognized from its wing-like seeds, and the scaly wood of older trees. As well, female cones are a very distinctive shape, with their pairs of decussate scales. |
| Pests |
| T. articulata can be attacked by a few insects, such as Pseudococcyx and Brachyacma. Affected cones take on a green colour, progressing to dark blue over time. |
| Habitat |
| T. articulata likes plenty of sun, a dry location, and a mild climate. As such, it tends to grow in open areas, sometimes mixing with plants that like similar conditions. They are found from 1000 m to 1700 m above sea level, depending on the level of sun. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark of T articulata starts out smooth, and becomes more scaly and segmented as the tree ages. The branches are fairly dense, and ascend as they move away from the trunk. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| The cotyledonary leaves of T. articulata are typically needle-like, with a length of about 2 cm to 3 cm. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves are scaled and come in whorled arrangements of approximately 4. Leaves are anywhere from 1.6 mm to 8 mm, with an acute apex |
| Flower Description |
| Male cones of T. articulata are around 2 mm to 4 mm long, with 8 to 12 microsporophylls, each of which contains 4 to 5 sporangia (equivalent to pollen sacs in flowering plants). Female cones, meanwhile, are more round, approximately 1 mm in diameter. They consist of 2 pairs of scales, and can contain up to 6 ovules. |
| Fruit Description |
| The seeds of T. articulata are convex, with 2 massive “wings”. They come in at about 6 mm to 8 mm wide. |
| Colour Description |
| The bark of T. articulata is typically a red-brown colour, and grey when weathered. The leaves are a grey-green, and the seed scales are grey, while the seeds themselves are a light brown. |
| Texture Description |
| The tree has a coarse texture, with scaly, segmented wood. |
| Notable Specimens |
| San-Guzepp, Tat-Targa, Mosta, Malta. |
| Propagation |
| Seeds can be extracted from cones by drying and shaking them, and can be sowed at any time of year, though autumn and spring are preferred. Seeds are often sown for 8 to 24 hours before sowing, though germination is still quite successful without doing so. Germination typically begins between 15 and 30 days after seeds are sowed, and can be reforested after about 1 to 2 years. The plants tend to flower in winter, with cones fully maturing a year later. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| T. articulata has been known to humans since at least 700 BC, and has been used for its wood, burls, and resin for millennia. The lumber has been used as part of ancient temples, while the burls are currently used in things such as pens and jewellery boxes. The resin, meanwhile, has seen extensive use throughout much of history, from varnish, as a prep material for painters, and during the painting process itself. The resin has also been used as pounce since medieval times, a purpose for which it can still be used for today. |
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