When/how to consider ancient trees near human settlement “cultivated” versus wild? I know this general topic is discussed in many other posts. However, this one is focused on ancient trees, specifically Camphor (Camphor officinarum) 樟树 zhāngshù, in this case especially those in China or other locations with ancient village trees of any species.
Recently an observation of mine of a Camphor in China was assessed as “Cultivated” by a user. Not a big deal, I don’t know if it’s cultivated or not and understand why someone could think it might be: it’s in a very old village and is a commonly cultivated tree in some places. However, is there any direct evidence of village Camphor trees usually being intentionally planted? Aren’t most of these trees just one of the last ancient trees standing? Their status as village tree is chosen by time and luck rather than intentional planning. Unless there is a record or intentionality such as being symmetrically planted by a gate or roadway with the same species of the same age, is there any reason to think they are cultivated?
Camphor are different from other ancient and obviously planted ancient trees in China. They aren’t planted in groves for planned future harvest like Cryptomeria or other trees.
So, what do you think?
Updated: I did not realize Camphor is not native to China. Lesson… read the ABOUT tab.
I don’t know about usually, but I’ve seen huge planted Camphor trees growing in temples in Japan, where the tree is considered sacred. They talk about it in the “About tab” in your observation. Planted trees can be very old, like this one in Uzbekistan.
I went into this totally not realizing Camphor is not native to China. They are so ubiquitous and old, it never occurred to me they wouldn’t be native. That native distribution of Taiwan, Ryukyu, and Japan but not China is a bit unusual. However, to add Korean Peninsula but not China makes it especially unusual. So interesting. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Of course, always read the “About” first. ;)
See the distribution map at POWO
Wikipedia article says both IN China, and then lower down NOT.
The text at POWO says Korea (Jejudo), which implies that its Korean distribution is limited to Jeju Island (in the Korea Strait) and it is absent from the Korean Peninsula. (On the reading “Korea (Jejudo only)” rather than the reading “Korea (including Jejudo)”.)
Non-native trees can still be wild in iNaturalist terms. Do you ever find Camphor seedlings these days? If the mature trees are numerous but are not reproducing, it is more probable they have all been planted.
They are definitely non-native and wild. Good point. I often see volunteer seedlngs.
I think you have to defer to the judgement of the observer in a case like. When natural regeneration is possible, making a definitive assessment that it is cultivated from a photo alone seems questionable.