sugi

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese Red-Cedar
• Japanese Cedar
• Japanese-cedar
• cryptomeria
• Japanese cryptomeria
• Japanese redwood
• peacock pine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cryptomeria japonica f. lobbii
• Cryptomeria japonica f. dacrydioides
• Cryptomeria japonica f. nana
• Cryptomeria japonica var. nana
• Cryptomeria japonica f. araucarioides
• Cryptomeria japonica f. spiralis
• Cryptomeria lycopodioides
• Cryptomeria japonica var. elegans-variegata
• Cryptomeria japonica var. dacrydioides
• Cryptomeria japonica var. spiralis
• Cryptomeria elegans
• Cryptomeria araucarioides
• Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis
• Cryptomeria variegata
• Cryptomeria japonica spiralites-falcata
• Cryptomeria japonica variegata-argentea
• Cryptomeria lobbiana
• Cryptomeria japonica var. araucarioides
• Cryptomeria japonica var. compacta
• Cryptomeria japonica var. fortunei
• Cryptomeria compacta
• Cryptomeria japonica var. pungens
• Cryptomeria japonica f. compacta
• Cryptomeria japonica var. radicans
• Cryptomeria fortunei
• Cryptomeria japonica f. pungens
• Cryptomeria japonica var. pendula
• Cryptomeria generalis
• Cryptomeria japonica var. caespitosa
• Cryptomeria japonica var. lobbii
• Cryptomeria japonica subsp. sinensis
• Cryptomeria kawaii
• Cryptomeria japonica f. elegans
• Cryptomeria lobbii
• Cryptomeria mairei
• Cryptomeria mucronata
• Cryptomeria nigricans
• Cryptomeria pungens
• Cryptomeria viridis
• Cupressus japonica
• Cupressus mairei
• Schubertia japonica
• Taxodium japonicum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Pinidae. Within the order Pinales, it is classified in the family Cupressaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cryptomeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be observed in Denmark and the Faroe Islands. It is also found within the territory of Great Britain and throughout Sweden. Moving into Middle Europe, the species extends into the Czechia-Slovakia region. Consequently, its range spans from the northern reaches of the continent to its central territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cryptomeria japonica is characterized by its specific niche within montane and submontane environments, where it thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient. This species is primarily found in lowland habitats, though it extends its reach into higher reaches of the mountainous landscape. Its ecological distribution is defined by an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 900 m AMSL and ascends to a maximum elevation of 2600 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit diverse climatic zones within these vertical strata.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Cryptomeria japonica is characterized by its nature as a perennial species that maintains a consistent presence within its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are located on aerial branches well above the ground, a structural adaptation that allows it to thrive in various forest strata. The plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a continuous photosynthetic capacity and structural stability across seasons. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and a robust phanerophyte life form enables the species to establish significant biomass and dominate its ecological niche over extended periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cryptomeria japonica is characterized by its growth form as a large, woody tree. It is a self-supporting species that grows as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 6 meters to a maximum of 40 meters, typically reaching an average height of approximately 17 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

17 m

Plant height min:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cryptomeria japonica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for temperate coniferous species that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate light and moisture conditions. The foliage consists of linear-shaped leaves with entire margins, reaching a maximum leaf length of approximately 1 cm. While the plant does not possess leaf thorns, it does exhibit the presence of leaf spines. From a structural and resource allocation perspective, the species maintains a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 341 mg/cm³, reflecting its wood density and mechanical properties. Furthermore, Cryptomeria japonica does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

1 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

yes

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

341 mg/cm³

Reproduction

Reproduction in Cryptomeria japonica is characterized by a sexual process through a monoeciouos reproductive system, while asexual reproduction is noted as absent. The plant produces fruits that exhibit a consistent morphology, with a mean fruit length of 1.4 cm and a mean fruit width of 1.4 cm. The seeds produced are quite small, with a minimum mass of 0.0024 g, a maximum mass of 0.0045 g, and an overall mean seed mass of approximately 0.00292641675 g. Regarding the dispersal of its progeny, the species follows an anemochorous syndrome, relying on wind for the effective distribution of its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit length mean:

1.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.4 cm

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed mass max:

0.0045 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00292641675 g

Seed mass min:

0.0024 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cryptomeria japonica has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 6,7-Dehydroferruginol, Amentoflavone, CATECHIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Cryptotrione.

6,7-Dehydroferruginol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Amentoflavone

1. International journal of molecular sciences

CATECHIN

1. International journal of molecular sciences

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Cryptotrione

1. Organic letters

FORTUNIN C

1. Journal of natural products

Ferruginol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Flavonoid

1. Frontiers in plant science

Formosaninol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Fortunin A

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Cryptomeria japonica has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.

Anticancer

1. Organic letters

Preparations

Cryptomeria japonica has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, essential oil, laurel forests planted with.

Bark

1. Organic letters
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of natural products

Essential oil

1. Frontiers in plant science

Laurel forests planted with

1. Fungal systematics and evolution