Native to China and Japan within which its entire distribution is uncertain.
Description
Taxonomic Notes
Nageia formosensis (Dummer) C.N. Page and Nageia nankoensis (Hayata) R.R. Mill, both from Taiwan, are sometimes recognised. The IUCN Redlist follows the more conservative treatment of the FLora of China and the World Conifer Checklist and includes both taxa within Nageia nagi.
Distribution
Recorded from southern China: Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan,Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang; Taiwan, Province of China; and Japan:Kyushu, Nansei-Shoto [Ryukyu Is.], Shikoku, S Honshu. The species appears in subpopulations in the northern end and southern tip of Taiwan, separated by the central range of mountains. Its distribution is imperfectly known: the range of natural occurrence (extent of occurrence) is probably substantially less extensive than the distribution given in for example the Atlas of the Gymnosperms of China (Ying et al. 2004) which makes no distinction between introduced/planted and occurrence in the wild.
Habitat and Ecology
Nageia nagi occurs in mixed mesophytic evergreen forest and mixed mesophytic deciduous forest (Wang 1961). It occurs in hills and low mountains from about 200 m to 1,200 m a.s.l. In evergreen oak forest it is one of several shade tolerant conifers that may occur under canopy or take advantage of small gaps to break through: Taxus chinensis, Cephalotaxus fortunei, Keteleeria fortunei, and Fokienia hodginsii are the most common of these. Besides Castanopsis spp. and Quercus spp. (the oaks), numerous angiosperm trees occur in these forests or forest remnants. In Taiwan and southern Japan the coniferous element of this vegetation is more dominant, with Pseudotsuga sinensis or P. japonica and Tsuga sieboldii often added to the mixture. In forest or woodland on drier mountain slopes N. nagi tends to follow streams, but it is known to regenerate in more open thickets after forest disturbance.
Human Uses
Nageia nagi was a valuable timber tree, but its most common use is as an amenity tree in China and Japan, where it is found in many of the climatically milder parts of these countries planted in gardens, parks, sanctuaries, and even as street trees. It is also popular as a tree for bonsai cultivation. Seeds yield an oil that is edible as are the leaves. Its bark is used in traditonal medicines. Products may be traded unde the common name "Asian Bayberry" - this name may also be applied to products derived from Myrica esculenta.
Conservation Status
Global Status & Rationale
Near Threatened
This species has been assessed as Near Threatened as although large parts of its habitat have been modified or lost, uncertainty about its distribution and abundance in most parts of its range makes it difficult to determine the extent of decline. In Taiwan it has been assessed as Critically Endangered due to its very limited distribution and small population size.
Conservation Actions
Populations of the putative Nageia formosensis (Dummer) C.N. Page and Nageia nankoensis (Hayata) R.R. Mill are protected within Kenting and Yangmingshan National Parks in Taiwan. It is likely to occur in some protected areas in Japan and China
References and further reading
Farjon, A. 2010. Conifer Database (June 2008). In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist (Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R.,Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M.,Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., eds). Reading, UK Available at: http://www.catalogueoflife.org/.
