The plant forms of cliff pine and cliff cypress are very similar. Both grow on cliffs and appear old and weathered after being exposed to wind and rain. Therefore, they are extremely similar in terms of form and texture. Let's now learn about the differences between cliff cypress and cliff pine.
Picture of cliff pine
【Differences between Cliff Cypress and Cliff Pine】
1. Smell
This is the most effective method of differentiation. If you can't distinguish them by appearance, you can differentiate them by smell. Cliff cypress has a distinct smell, while cliff pine, regardless of its weathering state, has the smell of pine, which cannot be changed!
2. Texture
Cliff cypress has various beautiful textures such as Bodhisattva cloud pattern, tiger skin pattern, and ink pattern, while cliff pine does not have as many beautiful textures! Can you find Bodhisattva cloud pattern on cliff pine? It doesn't exist!
3. Fineness
In terms of the material's appearance, cliff cypress has a very high level of fineness, while cliff pine is not as fine as cliff cypress. The "coarse silk" of cliff pine is rough! The texture is not as fine as cliff cypress, which is as thin as a hair strand!
Picture of cliff cypress
【The Ornamental Value of Cliff Pine】
Cliff pine in Taihang Mountains grows on cliffs just like cliff cypress. However, due to the dispersal of seeds, good cliff pine is harder to find compared to cliff cypress. Real cliff pine has textures that are very similar to cliff cypress, but more three-dimensional and smooth. The only difference is that the scent of cliff pine is not as pleasant as that of cliff cypress.
Aged cliff pine has the same gray-black to gray-white color as cliff cypress, and the cliff pine that comes out of the cliff cavity also has a thick coating of nearly one centimeter, with shapes of clusters and plates. Therefore, it is estimated that many cliff pines are mixed with cliff cypresses in the market. Smell is an important criterion for distinguishing cliff pine and cliff cypress, and it can be easily determined if there is a cross-section.
Cliff pine has excellent oiliness and fineness. The color of the wood ranges from light yellow to golden red, and it can be carved into very delicate texture. In my opinion, it is not inferior to any existing root art material.
As a collection of root art, the most outstanding feature of cliff pine is its beautiful and varied textures. As mentioned earlier, the textures of cliff pine are larger, three-dimensional, and full of strength. Coupled with its color and unique texture, it is quite impactful. Moreover, the shapes are also diverse, just like cliff cypress, with distinct figures and animals. It is definitely a natural root art material worth collecting.
【Pictures of Cliff Pine】
Picture of cliff pine
Picture of cliff cypress
