THE PRINCIPAL TIMBER TREES 21 



Oak is widely dispersed from river-level to 8000 feet altitude, 

 but large trees are scarce except in the vicinity of tombs, shrines, 

 and other sacred places. A general name for the family is 

 "Li," and the Chinese distinguish many kinds, such as Peh-fan, 

 Hwa, Hung, Tueh, and Chu li ; botanically about a score of 

 species occur in this region, of which the commonest are Quercus 

 serrata, Q. variabilis, and Q. aliena. All yield close-grained 

 timber, highly valued for a variety of purposes apart from 

 boat-building. 



Nanmu (Southernwood) includes a number of species of 

 Machilus and Lindera. All are evergreen and singularly hand- 

 some trees. They are largely planted around homesteads and 

 temples in Szechuan, and are a prominent feature of the 

 scenery of parts of the Chengtu Plain and around the base of 

 Mount Omei. They grow to a great size and have clean, straight 

 trunks and wide-spreading, umbrageous heads. The timber is 

 close-grained, fragrant, greenish and brown in colour, easily 

 worked, and very durable. It is highly esteemed for furniture- 

 making, and for pillars in the temples and the houses of the 

 wealthy. As planking it is used for boat bottoms. Nanmu 

 is one of the most valuable of all Chinese timbers, and the tree 

 itself among the handsomest of evergreens. Camphor (Ch'ang 

 shu), Cinnamomum Camphora, is found scattered over western 

 Hupeh and Szechuan up to 3500 feet altitude, and its fragrant 

 timber, like that of Nanmu, is made into high-class furniture. 

 The wood furnished by the thick main roots of this tree is known 

 as " Ying Mu " and is valued for cabinet work. 



For high-grade cabinet work, picture frames, and the very 

 best furniture the timber most highly esteemed in Szechuan is 

 the " Hung-tou Mu," derived from Ormosia Hosiei, a tree 

 allied to the Sophora. In the spring 0. Hosiei produces large 

 panicles of white and pink pea -shaped flowers, and at all 

 seasons of the year is a striking tree. The wood is heavier than 

 water, of a rich red colour, and beautifully marked. It is the 

 most high-priced of all local timbers, and is now very scarce. 

 In north-central Szechuan it is still fairly common, but on the 

 Chengtu Plain it is only found in temple grounds or over shrines. 

 The native name signifies " Red Bean tree," the seeds being red 

 and contained in bean-like pods. Allied to the foregoing is 



