Taxaceae FAMILY Near Threatened

Amentotaxus argotaenia

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Amentotaxus argotaenia is an evergreen shrub or a small tree with spreading branches; it can grow from 2 - 7 metres tall in China, though specimens in Vietnam are said to reach 30 - 40 metres with a bole 100 - 120cm in diameter[ 329 Title The Gymnosperm Database Publication Author Website http://www.conifers.org/index.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms. , 1192 Title Vietnam Conifers. Conservation Status Review 2004 Publication Author Nguyen Tien Hiep, Phan Ke Loc, Nguyen Duc To Luu, P.I. Thoma Publisher Fauna & Flora International, Vietnam Programme; Hanoi Year 2004 ISBN 1-903703-16-6 Description Information on more than 30 species of Conifer growing in Vietnam, giving a description, range, conservation status, uses etc. It can be downloaded as a PDf from the Internet. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is possibly also traded from Vietnam to China. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens and is also being investigated as a potential source of anti-cancer drugs. Despite the wide distribution of the type variety of Amentotaxus argotaenia, the species is in danger of extinction due to a similarly widespread reduction and deterioration of its habitat. In such cases, there is no direct evidence of decline but this is inferred from circumstantial evidence. When forests on more accessible mountain slopes have been and are being degraded or even removed to make way for agriculture, this tree will have gone with its habitat from those localities. An assessment of deforestation will amount to an inferred assessment of the status of a forest species. The status of this widely occurring forest species is also affected by slow growth rates, infrequent regeneration, poor seed dispersal and predation by rats. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - central and southern China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

HabitatA plant of the mid canopy, growing in montane forests, in ravines, on steep slopes or cliffs, on summits and ridges, on a variety of soil types, including limestone, sandstone, shale and granite; at elevations from 600 - 1,500 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. , 1192 Title Vietnam Conifers. Conservation Status Review 2004 Publication Author Nguyen Tien Hiep, Phan Ke Loc, Nguyen Duc To Luu, P.I. Thoma Publisher Fauna & Flora International, Vietnam Programme; Hanoi Year 2004 ISBN 1-903703-16-6 Description Information on more than 30 species of Conifer growing in Vietnam, giving a description, range, conservation status, uses etc. It can be downloaded as a PDf from the Internet. ].