Pinus morrisonicola
The Taiwan white pine is an evergreen tree endemic to Taiwan. Although the specific epithet “morrisonicola” in its scientific name means “from Yushan,” this species is mainly distributed in areas with elevations between 300 and 2,300 meters across the island. It has a wide distribution range, and its tall, majestic form can be seen on sunny slopes in the mid to low elevation mountainous regions throughout the island. It has strong environmental adaptability, tolerating poor soil conditions and thriving in various soil types, even taking root in rocky, exposed environments. This resilient trait makes it an important tree species for soil and water conservation on many slopes.
Its most distinctive feature is its needles, which grow in bundles of five, clearly distinguishing it from other native pine species such as the Taiwan red pine. Additionally, the scales of the Taiwan white pine's cones are relatively large, making it easily recognizable by its morphology. When young, the bark is smooth, but older trees exhibit shallow fissures, revealing the traces of time. With its elegant form and adaptability to Taiwan's mid to low elevation environments, it has become an important landscaping tree species and potted plant material, widely popular in the horticultural industry.
In 2011, the Taichung City Government held a public vote to select the new city tree, city flower, and city bird. Among numerous plant species, the Taiwan white pine stood out for its unique charm and symbolic significance, securing the highest number of votes and earning the favor of citizens to be designated as Taichung City's official tree. The Taiwanese white pine at this museum is planted on a circular hill in the Central Lowland Area of the Botanical Garden, mixed with other representative tree species of low-altitude evergreen broadleaved forests in the central region.