Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco

Scientific Name: Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco

Family: Cupressaceae

Common Name: Oriental thuja

Hindi Name: मोरपंखी

Description: Trees to more than 20 m tall; bark reddish brown to light grayish brown, thin, flaking in long strips; crown ovoid-pyramidal when young, broadly rounded or irregular when old. Leaves 1-3 mm, apex bluntly pointed; facial leaves rhomboid, with a conspicuous, linear, glandular groove at center abaxially; lateral leaves overlapping facial ones, boat-shaped, ridged, apex slightly incurved. Pollen cones yellowish green, ovoid, 2-3 mm. Seed cones when immature bluish green, subglobose, when ripe reddish brown, subovoid; proximal 2 fertile cone scales 2-seeded, distal 2 fertile scales 1-seeded. Seeds grayish brown or purplish brown, ovoid or subellipsoid, slightly ridged.

Economic Importance:

• The timber is used for gateposts and furniture.

• It is planted in many gardens for ornamental purposes.

Medicinal Importance:  

• It was used to treat scurvy and leaf extracts have been shown to inhibit bacterial growth.

Cultural Importance:

• The tree is held high in mystical esteem in Chinese folklore and was planted within tombs of ancient emperors; seeds were placed in the caskets.