Cypress family, Cupressaceae
Origin: China, Manchuria, Korea
Habitat in the original area: transitional areas between forests and steppes
Habitus: An evergreen shrub is up to 10 metres tall with a conical, densely branched crown. The bark is reddish-brown and peels off in thin longitudinal strips.
Leaf: Young leaves have the form of short needles; older leaves are scaly. Scaly leaves predominate on mature shrubs.
Bloom, fruit: Male cones are yellow, female ones have a more striking bluish colour. Ripening cones are light green and frosty on the surface. They are formed by 3–4 pairs of seed scales. These are thickened and elongated into a hooked protrusion at the end. Mature cones get woody.
Interesting fact: The leaves contain odorous substances which are released when crushed. They can cause skin problems in sensitive individuals.
