Phellodendron amurense Rupr.

Amur cork tree, Amur velvet

Family - Rutaceae

Naturally, it is easily recognized by

its corky bark, very chinked but velvety to the touch.

The bark of young trees is ash-grey with a silvery tint and has shallow cracks, while that of old trees is dark-grey or blackish, with deep cracks in the cork layer and distinctive design.

The young Cork trees could be confused with the young Valley elms that also have cork outgrowths, but their buds are easy to distinguish. The Velvet has small buds, hiding in the bark of the thick sprouts.

Tree height reaches 3-5 m near range limits and 25-28 m with a trunk diameter of 90-120 cm in the south. It is grows quickly and lives about 200 years.

It is a typical representative of the mixed, cedar-broad-leaved and flooded forests.

In the south of its range, it rises in mountains to 500 m while in its central part - to 250-300 m and, in the extreme north and west, it is only found in the valley forests.

It thrives in hot and sunny places.

It is a medicinal plant and a source of valuable honey with known anti-tuberculosis properties.

It is banned to logging.

Distribution in the Russia's Far East. Primorsky and Khabarovsky Krais, Amurskaya Oblast.

General distribution. China, Korean Peninsula.

Authors: MN Chipizubova , LM Pshennikova

Photo: L. Pshennikova , Chipizubova M. , N. Razzhigaeva

Collage : EV Bibchenko