Thitmin

Thitmin is an evergreen tree growing in multiple Chinese provinces and regions including Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi, and also in Taiwan, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The greyish-brown bark, made up of thin fibres, is fissured into longitudinal strips. Dense with spreading or ascending branches and leaves, the beautifully shaped tree can be grown in gardens for greening and ornamental purposes. Yellowish-brown, straight-grained, fine-textured and moderately hard, the wood is an ideal material for furniture, musical instruments and stationery, as well as a proper medium for carving.

This ancient-looking and sturdy thitmin is around 120 years old. It is 18 m tall with a crown spread of 12 m and a DBH of 734 mm.

Location: Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, near the octagonal pavilion