Abstract

The genus Pseudolarix, the Golden Larch, has recently been the subject of dispute in both its nomenclature and taxonomy. The following notes are presented as an attempt to clarify the situations. The Golden Larch, known as Chin Sung (golden pine) or Chin Chien Sung (golden coin pine), is native to China and grown there as a cultivated tree. Its botanical discovery was due to the effort of Robert Fortune who first noticed the tree grown as pot plants in Shanghai and later, in 1853 collected the tree in the wild in the eastern part of Chekiang province. His material was sent to England and Lindley believed it to be the Japanese Larch which he had effected the name rlbies Kaempferi on the basis of Pinus Kaempferi Lambert a few years earlier (in 1833). Although Lindley made this combination, he had not seen any specimens and was not actully familiar with the Japanese tree. The Chinese tree is a very different plant and Lindley's misidentification led into much confusion sub-sequently.