Family: Cupressaceae Genus: Platycladus Common name: Sabina, Sabina of Cartagena Habitats: Grows at relatively low altitudes in warm, dry, subtropical Mediterranean climates, on dry, sunny hills and slopes, mainly on calcareous soils. It prefers shallow, stony soils. Features: It is a small, slow-growing tree, 6-15 m tall (rarely 20 m); it often has more than one trunk from the base. The cypress-like leaves are 1-8 mm long and 1-1.5 mm wide. The cones are 10 to 15 mm long and brown when ripe. They are then 5 to 7 mm long and 2 mm wide, with papillary wings on each side. An endemic tree with a very limited distribution, its wood is very hard and of good quality for artistic carving. In ancient Egypt it was used to embalm the dead. Notes: The resin was also highly prized for making perfumes, glues, varnishes and incense. Finally, its bark is very rich in tannins and was therefore used to flavour the skin. Information taken from the website http://herbarivirtual.uib.es/ and from Pellicer, Joan (2000). Costumari Botànic. Edicions del Bullent. |