California torreya

California Nutmeg is an evergreen tree growing to 15–25 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 0.5–1 m ; the crown is conical in overall shape, with whorled branches. The leaves are needle-like, stiff, sharp pointed, 3–5 cm long and 3 mm broad; they are arranged spirally but twisted at the base to lie flat either side of the shoots.

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I found that California torreya is indeed "rare, though locally abundant," as reported in the literature. I believe it is "locally abundant" because it has been able to altitudinally compensate for rises in temperature during this interglacial. Its large seed, however, may be the reason that it is "rare". A large seed cannot waft on a breeze from one favorable habitat to the next. More