Cliff Pine is a pine tree that grows on cliffs! Cliff pines endure wind and rain, aging and decay. As we all know, cliff pines have strong roots and a tenacious life, so it is difficult to dig them up or plant them. Can cliff pines take root? Let's take a comprehensive look at cliff pines!
Can Cliff Pines Take Root?
I can only describe the idea of cliff pines taking root as nonsense. Currently, the only type of pine that can take root is the luo han pine. Taking root is just a way to amuse oneself.
If you want to successfully plant cliff pines, you must choose ones with intact root systems and many fine red hair roots. Avoid roots that have turned back, aerial roots, or large areas of broken roots, especially ones that are connected to the water line. Only cliff pines with good root systems can be planted more efficiently.
In short, even if the shape of a cliff pine is good, do not buy it if the roots are not good. Ninety percent of them will become firewood, so do not have any illusions. Also, determine the best time to transplant the tree and try not to delay to prevent severe dehydration of the cliff pine.
Cliff Pine's Original Form
It is a herbaceous plant that grows to a height of 5-30cm. The entire plant is hairless. It has a fibrous root system. The stem is solitary or clustered, with or without branching. The stem has edges, and adventitious roots often grow on the nodes at the base. The leaves are arranged in a whorl of 3-6, sessile or with a few stalks. The leaves are elongated, spatulate or narrow-lanceolate, measuring 8-20mm in length and 2-7mm in width. The apex is slightly blunt or sharply pointed, and the base gradually narrows. The leaf margins are entire.
The inflorescence is cone-shaped or umbrella-shaped, with long branches. The flowers are sparse and small, measuring 3-8mm in length. The calyx has 5 narrow triangular to lanceolate lobes, measuring 2-1.5mm in length. The apex is nearly pointed. The petals are 5, white, lanceolate-ovate, measuring 2-3mm in length. The apex is sharply pointed, and they are free from the base. There are 10 stamens arranged in 2 whorls, shorter than the petals.
The scales are 5, wide-spade-shaped, with notches at the apex. The carpels are 5, elliptical, fused at the lower part, and have slight milk-like protrusions on the back. The fruit is a gallnut, and when mature, the upper half spreads obliquely. The seeds are ovate, brown, smooth, and 0.4mm in length. The flowering period is from May to July, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
Cliff Pine's Ornamental Value
The Taihang cliff pine is a plant that, like the cliff cypress, grows on cliffs. However, due to the dispersal of their seeds, it is even more difficult to find good cliff pines compared to cliff cypresses. True cliff pines have similar textures to cliff cypresses, but they are more three-dimensional and smooth. The only difference is that the fragrance of cliff pines is not as pleasant as that of cliff cypresses.
The aged cliff pines have the same gray-black to gray-white bark color as the cliff cypresses. The cliff pines that grow out of the cliff caves also have a thick layer of about one centimeter, and their shapes can be either lumps or plates. Therefore, it is estimated that many cliff pines are mixed with cliff cypresses in the market. The smell is an important criterion for distinguishing cliff pines from cliff cypresses. If there is a cross-section, it can be easily distinguished.
The wood of cliff pines has excellent oiliness and fineness. The wood ranges in color from light yellow to golden red, and it can be carved into very delicate textures. In my opinion, it is not inferior to any existing root art material.
As a root art collection, the most outstanding feature of cliff pines is their beautiful and varied textures. As mentioned earlier, the textures of cliff pines are coarser, more three-dimensional, and full of strength. Combined with their bark color and unique texture, they have a strong visual impact. Moreover, their shapes are as diverse as cliff cypresses, with clear depictions of figures, birds, and animals. They are definitely a natural root art material worth collecting.
