“Miracle pine seedlings growing in pods
Small seedlings of the so-called “miracle pine (奇跡の松）” tree that survived the March tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, are growing in pods at a forestry company institute and will be planted in the city at a future date.
Sumitomo Forestry Group said it has grown 18 seedlings from seeds taken from pine cones of the tree at its institute in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. It unveiled the plants during a press conference in Tokyo.
The institute collected the seeds in April and kept them at a low temperature for about six months before they successfully germinated between September and December.
The continued survival of the tree, which has become a symbol of the city’s reconstruction, is in doubt as its roots have begun to rot, a report to Rikuzentakata authorities.The tree was the only survivor among around 70,000 pines that stood in a scenic area of the city on the Pacific coast.
The seedlings have grown to a length of 2 to 4 centimeters.They need to reach 30 cm to 50 cm before they can be planted. This will take five to six years if grafting is involved, or around 10 years if they are left to grow of their own accord.
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