Keteleeria

Taxobox
name = "Keteleeria"

---

image_caption = "Keteleeria evelyniana"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Pinaceae
genus = "Keteleeria"
genus_authority = Carrière
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Keteleeria davidiana" "Keteleeria evelyniana" "Keteleeria fortunei"

"Keteleeria" is a genus of three species of coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae, related to the genera "Nothotsuga" and "Pseudolarix". It is distinguished from "Nothotsuga" by the much larger cones, and from "Pseudolarix" by the evergreen leaves and the cones not disintegrating readily at maturity. All three genera share the unusual feature of male cones produced in umbels of several together from a single bud, and also in their ability, very rare in the Pinaceae, of being able to coppice.

The genus is found in southern China (from Shaanxi south to Guangdong and Yunnan), Taiwan, Hainan, northern Laos and Vietnam.

They are evergreen trees reaching 35 m tall. The leaves are flat, needle-like, 1.5-7 cm long and 2-4 mm broad. The cones are erect, 6-22 cm long, and mature in about 6-8 months after pollination; cone size and scale shape is very variable within all three species.

The variability of the cones has led in the past to the description of several additional species (up to 16 'species' have been named), but most authorities now only accept three species. For a different viewpoint, see the "Flora of China" link below.

The genus name honours J.B. Keteleer (1813-1903), a French nurseryman.

External links

* [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/PIcones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - photos of cones]
* [http://www.conifers.org/pi/ke/index.htm Gymnosperm Database]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=117075 Flora of China]