View source for Cathaya

{{Short description|Genus of conifers}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2018}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|30.0|0}}
| image = Cathaya argyrophylla - Arnold Arboretum - DSC06796.JPG
| image_caption =
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 25 September 2021">{{cite iucn |author1=Yang, Y. |author2=Liao, W. |date=2013 |title=''Cathaya argyrophylla'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T32316A2814173 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32316A2814173.en |access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref>
| display_parents = 2
| genus = Cathaya
| parent_authority = [[Woonyong Chun|Chun]] & [[Kuang Keren|Kuang]]
| species = argyrophylla
| authority = Chun & Kuang
}}
'''''Cathaya''''' is a genus in the pine family, [[Pinaceae]], with one known living species, '''''Cathaya argyrophylla'''''.<ref name=powogen>{{cite web|title=''Cathaya''|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:31964-1|website=Plants of the World Online|publisher=Royal Botanical Gardens Kew |access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref> ''Cathaya'' is a member of the subfamily [[Laricoideae]], most closely related to ''[[Pseudotsuga]]'' and ''[[Larch|Larix]]''. A second species, ''C. nanchuanensis'', is now treated as a [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]],<ref name=powocnan>{{cite web|title=''Cathaya nanchuanensis''|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:676697-1|website=Plants of the World Online|publisher=Royal Botanical Gardens Kew |access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref> as it does not differ from ''C. argyrophylla'' in any characters.
''Cathaya'' is confined to a limited area in southern [[China]], in the provinces of [[Guangxi]], [[Guizhou]], [[Hunan]] and southeast [[Sichuan]]. It is found on steep, narrow [[mountain]] slopes at 950–1800 m altitude, on [[limestone]] soils. A larger population has been reduced by over-cutting before its scientific discovery and protection in 1950.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are needle-like, 2.5–5&nbsp;cm long, have ciliate (hairy) margins when young, and grow around the stems in a spiral pattern. The [[conifer cone|cones]] are 3–5&nbsp;cm long, with about 15–20 scales, each scale bearing two winged [[seed]]s.
One or two botanists, unhappy with the idea of a new genus in such a familiar family, tried to shoehorn it into other existing genera, as ''Pseudotsuga argyrophylla'' and ''[[Tsuga]] argyrophylla''.<ref name=powocarg>{{cite web|title=''Cathaya argyrophylla''|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:676696-1|website=Plants of the World Online|publisher=Royal Botanical Gardens Kew |access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref> It is however very distinct from both of these genera, and these combinations are not now used.
The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia had a small living specimen. The tree died in 2017.
Whistling Gardens in Wilsonville, Ontario has a young specimen in its plant collection.
Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, Oregon has a specimen in its collection. Hoyt’s tree is propagated from a tree that was probably imported illegally back in the 1990s.
==Fossil record==
''Cathaya'' sp. [[fossils]] are described from the early [[Pleistocene]] of southern [[Portugal]].<ref>Forest Context and Policies in Portugal: Present and Future Challenges by Fernando Reboredo – Springer, 28. aug. 2014 – {{ISBN|978-3-319-08455-8}}</ref> They are abundant in European [[brown coal]] deposits dating from between 10 and 30 million years ago.
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
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==External links==
*[http://www.conifers.org/pi/ca/index.htm Gymnosperm Database: ''Cathaya argyrophylla'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130216105021/http://conifersaroundtheworld.com/blog/cathaya_argyrophylla_yinshan Conifers Around the World: ''Cathaya argyrophylla'']
{{Pinaceae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1543178|from2=Q13565989}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Laricoideae]]
[[Category:Endemic flora of China]]
[[Category:Trees of China]]
[[Category:Flora of Guangxi]]
[[Category:Flora of Guizhou]]
[[Category:Flora of Hunan]]
[[Category:Flora of Sichuan]]
[[Category:Extant Rupelian first appearances]]
[[Category:Monotypic conifer genera]]
[[Category:Vulnerable flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Rupelian genus first appearances]]