Although it is not as well known as the mulberry tree as a tree that can feed silkworms, it was a highly valued royal tree in ancient times, and it has an amazing value. It is similar to the mulberry tree and has many of the same characteristics and forms. The tree belongs to the deciduous shrub or small tree, which belongs to the family Mulberry orange mulberry, so it is closely related to the mulberry tree. The fruit of the tree is also similar to that of the mulberry tree, and in some areas it is also called "yellow mulberry".
The growth rate of the tree is relatively slow, and it generally takes up to 15 years to form a thicker core. Its plants are generally not very tall, mostly shrubs, and a few varieties can grow up to six or seven meters tall. The males have larger leaves and fewer fruits, while the females have smaller leaves and more fruits. Nowadays, however, there are fewer and fewer people raising silkworms in rural areas, and the demand for sherbet trees has also decreased, and many people cut down the trees to make firewood. This is also the case in my hometown, where there are fewer and fewer trees, and this ancient royal tree is gradually being forgotten. So, why did the Zhe tree have such a high value in ancient times?
The reason why the tree became a tree for the royal family is related to its unique dye. When the tree reaches a certain age, its core turns yellow, and this yellow dye is very rare. In ancient times, yellow symbolized the authority of the emperor, and only the emperor could wear yellow clothing. As a result, the core of the tree becomes a precious dye**. This yellow dye is a natural dye that stains clothes with bright colors, durability that won't fade for decades, and a subtle fragrance.
Because the core of the tree has such a precious yellow dye, it was used in ancient times to dye the dragon robes worn by emperors. Therefore, Zheshu is also known as "imperial wood" or "**wood". In the Song Dynasty, the poet Su Shi wrote in his poem: "When the year is old, the brush is for the emperor's leisure, and the robe is in the pond for three thousand." The "robe" here refers to the emperor at that time. It can be seen that the status of Zheshu in ancient times was very important.
In addition to the yellow dye, the tree has many other values. As a high-quality wood, Zheshu can be used not only for dyeing, but also for making high-end furniture. The tree grows slowly, but its wood is hard, the core of the wood is yellow, and the grain is beautiful, which is not inferior to red sandalwood. Therefore, in ancient times, the wood of the Zheshu was used exclusively to make furniture for royalty and nobility.
In addition, the leaves of the tree can be fed to silkworms, and the silk raised is very precious. The fruit of the tree is also very delicious, and it used to be one of the foods of rural children, and the taste is even more delicious than that of mulberries. The fruit of the tree can not only be eaten fresh, but can also be used to make sake and make preserved fruits and other delicacies. Its bark is also very valuable, in ancient times, the bark of the tree was one of the main raw materials for papermaking, because of its rich stem bark fiber and excellent paper toughness.
The roots, stems, bark, leaves, and fruits of the Zhe tree all have medicinal properties, especially the roots of the Zhe tree, which are called "piercing stones" by Chinese medicine. It can be seen that in addition to yellow dye, there are many other uses and values of Zheshu.
However, due to the slow growth and difficulty of growing into a tree, coupled with the decreasing demand for the tree, the wild tree is now very scarce. Many farmers cut down the trees for firewood, especially those that grow tall, which are even rarer. If there are still trees in your hometown, you must pay attention to them and do not cut them down at will.
Due to the increasing awareness of the protection of the tree, it is now listed as a protected plant. However, not all trees are protected, and generally only trees that are more than 50 years old are considered protected. Therefore, if you can still see the tree in your hometown, you must protect it.
In short, as a tree that can feed silkworms, the Zheshu tree was endowed with extremely high value in ancient times. Its yellow dye became a special dye for the emperor's clothing, and it was also a precious wood for high-end furniture. The leaves of the tree can be used to feed silkworms, produce precious silk, the fruit is delicious and can be used for a variety of foods, the bark can be used to make paper, and the roots can be used for medicinal purposes. However, due to the decrease in demand and destruction of the tree, wild trees have become rare, so they need to be taken seriously and protected.
1.Rock Breaker. (2020).The "Imperial Tree" of the Emperor's Special Tree - Zhe Tree. Northeast Forestry Hacking Space, 13(4), 74-75
2.Zhang Tingting. (2019).An analysis of the phenomenon of farmers cutting down trees and burning fires. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 6(163), 107