Japanese Umbrella Pine (Kouya-maki)

Japanese Umbrella Pine(Sciadopitys verticillata) is known as the Japan-specific tree.
And in Japan, this tree is listed up as the world's three major garden tree, along with the Himalayan cedar and Brazilian pine.

It's slow growth, even if the big that it does not disturbed tree form, it has been used as a garden of the temple　from the old days.

leaves of Japanese umbrella PIne

Its leaves are similar to the pine, not scratchy. Since softwood, flowers are inconspicuous, the species that can be in the fall is a characteristic.

leaf from pine cones

Surprisingly, it leaves are growing from the pine cones. However, in a sober phenomenon, not that Japanese people are talking about.

What is more important than it is,this timber is one of the best five of excellent timber in Japan, resistant to moisture. So people used it for bath tub and the coffin for the greats long time ago.

aged big tree

Today, it is hardly to make a coffin with this tree, not even to plant this tree in the garden in the younger generation. However, the beauty of the tree form of this tree is reviewed, Tokyo Sky Tree is said to mimic the shape of the tree.

looks like Tokyo sky tree???