Ducampopinus krempfii (Lec.) A.Chev.

Latinh Name:

Ducampopinus krempfii (Lec.) A.Chev. (Syn: Pinus krempfii A. Chey.) 

Vernacular names: Thông lá dẹt, Ngô ri 

Rhodoleia championii, Photo by Dinh Quang Diep

Family: 

Pinaceae

Morphology:

A large evergreen tree, up to 30-35m in height, with a diameter up to 150- 200cm or more. Bole straight with buttresses at base. Bark pink-grey, peeling off into irregular fragments, having resin ducts. Open umbrella- shaped crown with many big branches. Leaves grouped into small fascicles at tips of twigs, narrow lanceolate, juvenile leaves are longer and thinner than mature leaves. Cones unisexual. Female cone: Solitary, ovate, 4-9cm long and 3- 8cm wide. When mature scales do not open completely down to bases. Tip of scales rhomboidal. Seeds oval and winged.

Distribution and ecology:

An endemic genus and species to Vietnam, with limited distribution, found only in some localities of Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces. Bi Doup mountain is its distribution centre. Occurring naturally in closed medium mountain, subtropical forests; often mixed with Fokienia hodginsii, Pinus dalatensis, Dacrydium pierrei and other broad-leaved trees such as: Symingtonia populnea and Rhodoleia championii at altitudes of 1600- 2000m. They often grow in places having black-grey, deep humus soils or humus-rich loamy soils along the streamlets. Producing cones in April-May; seeds mature in July-September.

Uses:

Wood soft, light and slightly resinous, having good physical and mechanical properties. Can be used as Pinus kesiya. An endangered species of Vietnam, with very limited habitat that has attracted the interests of many domestic and foreign scientist.

Souce: VIET NAM FOREST TREES 1996