a comprehensive guide to understanding the different elongating species and subgenres
The genre of bonsai, known for its indefinite elongating growth, embodies a distinctive Mirai-ism. Rather than categorizing horticultural or botanical features, "Elongating Species" serves as a means to quantify the incredible strength in the growth of species that mature into massive tree forms—skyscrapers—specifically, the apically dominant conically shaped conifers that comprise the world's tallest trees. Understanding the spring surge of growth, resulting in elongating foliar mass in linear lines, is key. The challenge lies in harnessing physiological indicators and appropriate techniques to manage strength and energy distribution, resulting in miniaturizing these giant trees while pursuing aesthetics that consider their environmental conditions.
The strength of this genre resides in its vascular system. The ample storage of sugars and starches accumulated in the fall is the powerhouse driving growth, and foliar elongation come spring. Paired with moisture-rich environments that facilitate their skyscraping behavior, diverse conditions—from windswept alpine ridges to storm-influenced coastal settings—offer intriguing aesthetic possibilities. This range includes the deciduous nature of alpine environments, the swampy conditions fostering the most beautiful buttressed bald cypress on Earth, and more. The environments supporting elongating species in bonsai create a vast array of opportunities to explore diverse aesthetics.
"The strength of this genre resides in its vascular system. The ample storage of sugars and starches accumulated in the fall serves as the powerhouse driving growth and foliar elongation come spring."
1. Subgenre: Alpine
The Alpine sub-genre within the elongating species category showcases the most cold-tolerant trees, with a distinctive aesthetic suited for Timberline or extreme Arctic conditions. These trees feature small conical apices in numerous iterations, complemented or accentuated by steeply sloping downward branches and compact foliar pads capable of bearing the weight of snow. They express the impact of Timberline's harsh conditions, which are evident in the deadwood and the destruction at the highest elevations.
These Alpine forms exhibit various topographical influences, from long-gating branches showing the wind peeling over a topographical barrier's cornice and abruptly impacting the tree to the iconic dead tops characteristic of Alpine regions. Rapid and robust in growth, these trees possess genetic adaptations that enable them to produce abundant foliar mass quickly during a short growing season. They then pause to photosynthesize and replenish their sugar-starch load, preparing for cold and snowy winters.
Alpine: Spruce
Asia
Ezo Spruce - Picea jezoensis
Europe
Bird's Nest Spruce - Picea abies 'Nidiformis'
Norway Spruce - Picea abies
North America
Black Hills Spruce - Picea glauca
Black Spruce - Picea mariana
Colorado Spruce - Picea pungens
Engelmann Spruce - Picea engelmannii
Red Spruce - Picea rubens
White Spruce - Picea glauca
Alpine: Hemlock
North America
Eastern Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis
Mountain Hemlock - Tsuga mertensiana
Western Hemlock - Tsuga heterophylla
Alpine: Fir
Europe
Silver Fir - Abies alba
North America
Balsam Fir - Abies balsamea
Subalpine Fir - Abies lasiocarpa
White Fir - Abies concolor
Pacific Douglas Fir - Pseudotsuga menziesii 'menziesii'
Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir - Pseudotsuga menziesii 'glauca'
2. Subgenre: Coastal
The second sub-genre, the coastal elongating species, is a diverse grouping. It encompasses the most massive trees on Earth, prevalent in lower-elevation coastal areas. These towering titans are primarily valued for their lumber due to their straight grain and extensive height. From Japan's Cryptomeria and Hinoki Cypress to North America's Coastal Redwoods and Pacific Douglas Firs, the coastal elongating species sub-genre offers a wide range of character to emulate in the bonsai practice.
To achieve such size and grandeur, these monumental trees exist over a truly remarkable lifespan. They evolve aesthetically as they age, following the original formula of conical growth in each reiterative trunk they create. Among bonsai genres, we have delved into the coastal elongating sub-genre more than any other, exploring the aesthetic potential and opportunities for expressing age through the genre's unique aesthetics. The longevity of these trees is truly awe-inspiring and commands our respect in the bonsai practice.
Coastal:
Asia
Hinoki Cypress - Chamaecyparis obtusa
Europe
Italian Cypress - Cupressus sempervirens
North America
Coastal Redwood - Sequoia sempervirens
Monterey Cypress - Hesperocyparis macrocarpa
Pygmy Cypress - Cupressus pigmaea
3. Subgenre: Deciduous conifer
The third sub-genre is the deciduous conifer, a unique subset of species known for shedding their leaves in the fall. Deciduous conifers capture the mass and age of their other elongating brethren and provide year-round interest more commonly associated with deciduous broadleaf species. These malleable trees occupy alpine, foothill, and coastal environments, making this sub-genre more intriguing.
Various larch species thrive in Earth's coldest and most extreme conditions, showing the alpine form's quintessential characteristics. Dawn redwood matures into fantastical shapes amongst a blending of elements in the foothills of China. Meanwhile, upon maturity, the Bald Cypress reaches the swamp's lowest depths with buttress-fluted trunks and iconic flat-tops. The Deciduous Conifer sub-genre embodies a diverse amalgamation of shapes, forms, and characters unrivaled in the bonsai realm.
Deciduous conifer:
Asia
Japanese Larch - Larix kaempferi
Europe
Dawn Redwood - Metasequoia glyptostroboides
North America
American Larch - Larix laricina
Southeastern US
Bald Cypress - Taxodium distichum
Central America
Montezuma Cypress - Taxodium mucronatum
Elongating species occupy some of the most sumptuous and sensual landscapes on Earth. They are endowed with resources enabling them to thrive and attain the massive size and scale defining the giant trees on Earth and some of the oldest. As tree lovers, we can feast our eyes on this epicenter of vascular strength, making them adaptable. Their size renders them formidable, and their nuance renders them absolutely fascinating and undeniably intriguing as subjects for bonsai.
"As tree lovers, we can feast our eyes on this epicenter of vascular strength, making them adaptable. Their size renders them formidable, and their nuance renders them absolutely fascinating and undeniably intriguing as subjects for bonsai."
