The Jia Tree

original: 椵木 (jiamu). In modern botany, this usually refers to the Linden or Lime tree (Tilia). Historically, however, it was often confused with species of Elm or Zelkova due to similar leaf shapes.

The Gazetteer of Ningxiang County states: The wood of the Jia is firm yet flexible, making it excellent for crafting utensils. When soaked in water, it produces a viscous grease; women use this for washing their hair. There are varieties known as the "Sand Jia" and the "Insect Jia." Within the leaves of the "Insect Jia," pouches form which give birth to midges.

The Gazetteer of Hengshan County states: The Jia tree produces fruit shaped like garment buttons. If you break them open, butterfly-midges original: 蛺蚊 (jiawen); likely referring to gall-forming insects or small flies that emerge from plant galls fly out.

The Gazetteer of Longshan County states: Regarding the Jia tree, the Correct Meaning of the Zuo Commentary An influential 7th-century commentary on the Zuo Zhuan, one of the earliest Chinese historical texts notes that there is a tree called the Jia, which the common people call the Jia-Elm. There are two varieties, red and white. On large trees, the bark is over an inch thick; its nature is gluey, and it can be mixed into incense materials. The leaves are round and pale yellow. It is a common error to write the name using the characters for Geng or Lang. Colloquial names include Cedar-Jia, Yu-Jia, Cypress-Jia, and Hard-shell Jia. The Cedar-Jia is considered the highest quality.

Author’s Commentary: The Jia tree is found frequently in the regions of Hunan and Lingnan The "Southern Ridge" region, covering parts of modern Guangdong and Guangxi; it is not a rare or precious wood. Most gazetteer compilers identify it as the Jia-Elm. In truth, the Southern Lang-Elm original: 榔楡 (langyu); Ulmus parvifolia, which bears pods in autumn, is also found occasionally in these areas. Chen Zangqi A Tang Dynasty pharmacologist (c. 681–757 AD) known for his work "Supplements to the Materia Medica" claimed that the South has "Thorny Jia" but lacks the "Large Elm." However, the "Lang" wood found today has neither thorns nor pods, so it is not the Lang-Elm. The gazetteers of Ningxiang and Hengshan both claim the tree produces mosquitoes...