original: "榧杉之屬" (Feishan zhi shu). This header classifies the following plants within the group containing the Torreya (nut-meg yew) and Cunninghamia (fir) families.

The Buddhist Pine

The Buddhist Pine original: "羅漢松" (Luohansong); Podocarpus macrophyllus. has dense leaves that are long and lush like bamboo, yet they grow in clustered or rounded formations. It is frequently cultivated in pots for decorative enjoyment original: "盆玩" (penwan); an early term for what is now commonly known as Bonsai or Penjing.. Its fruit is shaped like the form of an Arhat A "Luohan" or Arhat is a perfected Buddhist disciple; the seed resembles a bald head sitting atop a fleshy, robe-like base., which is why it is so named. Some say the fruit is edible. Others believe it to be the same as the Bamboo Cypress original: "竹柏" (Zhubai); Nagi podocarpus.. According to the Records of Local Products in the Potted Section, the Bamboo Cypress has dense, long leaves and its sheath original: "籜" (tuo); usually referring to the protective sheath of a bamboo shoot. resembles bamboo. If one considers the "sheath" to be its falling leaves, then the two species are very similar; however, if one interprets "sheath" as the bracts of a bamboo shoot, they are not alike at all. I have recorded this here to await further investigation.

The Buddhist Pine of Southern Yunnan original: "滇南" (Diannan). produces fruit as large as a thumb with a green head and a crimson base original: "絳跗" (jiangfu). The "base" refers to the fleshy receptacle below the seed, which turns reddish-purple when ripe.. Its shape is upright and pleasing. The base is tender and sweet in flavor, and it is particularly elegant when served on a display tray. Folk wisdom says that eating them can benefit the heart qi original: "益心氣" (yi xin qi); in Traditional Chinese Medicine, this refers to nourishing the functional energy and spirit associated with the heart., as they likely possess the same medicinal efficacy as pine and cypress seeds.