An extremely tall specimen of an endangered species of magnolia tree, Michelia compressa, has been recently found on Jeju Island. The newly found tree is the biggest of its kind ever discovered in Korea.
This giant Michelia compressa magnolia was found near a valley on the southern slopes of Hallasan Mountain, announced the Warm Temperate and Subtropical Forest Research Center, part of the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS). Two other trees of the same variety exist on Jeju, one in Sillyecheon Valley in Seogwipo-si City and one preserved by the research institute.
The Michelia compressa is a genus of evergreen magnolia found in subtropical regions like Taiwan and Jeju, and in Korea lives solely on Jeju Island. Its flowers bud between the leaves at the end of the branches between February and April and give off a gentle aroma.
This most recently found specimen of Michelia compressa is 20 meters tall and 48 centimeters in circumference, bigger than its cousin in the Sillyecheon Valley that is 16 meters tall and 42 centimeters in circumference. The research center said that the tree has a healthy shape and that its recent growth has been robust.
Finally, the NIFoS announced that as part of its protection and cultivation plans for this giant specimen, it will undertake the collection of seeds from other varieties of magnolia and it will start a seedling cultivation program targeted at growing more Michelia compressa.
By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: National Institute of Forest Science
icchang@korea.kr
This giant Michelia compressa magnolia was found near a valley on the southern slopes of Hallasan Mountain, announced the Warm Temperate and Subtropical Forest Research Center, part of the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS). Two other trees of the same variety exist on Jeju, one in Sillyecheon Valley in Seogwipo-si City and one preserved by the research institute.
The tallest Michelia compressa magnolia tree ever found in Korea has been discovered on Jejudo Island. The Michelia compressa is a variety of subtropical magnolia and only three are known to be alive on Jeju Island.
The giant Michelia compressa magnolia blooms on Jeju Island.
The Michelia compressa is a genus of evergreen magnolia found in subtropical regions like Taiwan and Jeju, and in Korea lives solely on Jeju Island. Its flowers bud between the leaves at the end of the branches between February and April and give off a gentle aroma.
This most recently found specimen of Michelia compressa is 20 meters tall and 48 centimeters in circumference, bigger than its cousin in the Sillyecheon Valley that is 16 meters tall and 42 centimeters in circumference. The research center said that the tree has a healthy shape and that its recent growth has been robust.
Finally, the NIFoS announced that as part of its protection and cultivation plans for this giant specimen, it will undertake the collection of seeds from other varieties of magnolia and it will start a seedling cultivation program targeted at growing more Michelia compressa.
By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: National Institute of Forest Science
icchang@korea.kr
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