Taxaceae

Cephalotaxus hainanensis H.L.Li

Restricted to the island of Hainan, China where the main threat has been exploitation of the bark and leaves for the valuable medicinal extracts. Habitat conversion and deforestation are now the most current threats

Description

Taxonomic Notes

In the Flora of China 4: 87 (1999), this species is treated as a synonym of Cephalotaxus mannii. However, in a note the co-author Robert Mill considered the plants from Hainan to be separable as the species named and described by H.L. Li, i.e. C. hainanensis. Mill gives a statement on morphological differences between the two species. Under this narrower species circumscription it is possible that other specimens from southern China and northern Viet Nam would have to be included under C. hainanensis, with consequences for its distribution and hence conservation status. Ying et al. (2004) map this species as occurring in western Guangdong, Hainan, southeastern and western Guanxi, western Yunnan, and even southeastern Xizang [Tibet]. The populations of Yunnan and Tibet are here treated as belonging to C. mannii. A critical modern revision of the genus to resolve these issues is lacking at present. This assessment treats this taxon as being endemic to Hainan

Distribution

Endemic to Hainan Island, China (Jianfeng Ling, Limu Ling, Wuzhi Shan, Bawang Ling, Diao Luo Shan). The area of occupancy is estimated to be as small as 10km² and it is known from five localities. The population is estimated to number 126,000 individuals on Hainan. It is uncertain how many of these are mature.

Habitat and Ecology

Cephalotaxus hainanensis occurs in mixed warm temperate to subtropical rainforests (evergreen broad-leaved forest), mainly in the mountainous areas on the island of Hainan, where it attains tree habit and size (10–20m). Occurs from sea level up to about 1700 metres above sea-level. It can sometimes be the dominant tree in the community.

Human Uses

The bark and leaves contain valuable medicinal compounds such as cephalotaxine and harringtonine. Trees would also have been logged in the past for their timber.

Entry information:

Entry authors:

Y.Yang and W-b. Liao. ·

Entry last edited:

14 Nov 2019

Recommended Citation:

Y.Yang and W-b. Liao, 2019, Cephalotaxus hainanensis, from the website: ‘Threatened Conifers of The World’ (https://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/conifers/cephalotaxus-hainanensis). Downloaded on 5 May 2025.

Categorised in:

Endangered, Direct exploitation, China, Residential and commercial development and Taxaceae.