Family: Cypress. Genus: coniferous shrubs. Species: Microbiota (Latin Microbióta). This is a coniferous shrub, with graceful branches spreading horizontally, rising or drooping at the ends. The height of the shrub is no more than half a meter, the width of the crown is 2 meters. The branches of the shrub have many branches, are slightly flattened and are thus similar to the branches of thuja. Leaves (needles) are small, scaly, oppositely located.
The needles of young plants and shoots growing in the shade are often protruding, needle-shaped. In an adult plant, the leaves are like scales and are pressed against the trunk. The length of the leaves is 1–2 mm. In autumn, the leaves of myctobiota acquire a brown tint with a bronze tint. Fruit: small, dry bump.
Microbiota refers to a dioecious plant. On one bush there are flowers in the form of cones, both male and female.
Male cones are very small, consisting of 5-6 pairs of scales that store pollen. They are located mainly at the ends of the shoots. Female cones are somewhat larger than male cones, round in shape and about 5 mm in diameter. They "sit" on short shoots and consist of one or two pairs of woody thin scales. When ripe, these scales spread apart, exposing a large round seed with a spout.
Microbiota cones do not form annually, they are very small and therefore difficult to notice. Therefore, for a long time, botanical scientists could not come to a consensus regarding the sex of this plant. Microbiota refers to plants with a slow growth rate. Each year, its growth is no more than 3 cm.
Distribution of microbiota and its varieties
The shrub was discovered in 1921. In the wild, it can be seen in the Far East (south of Sikhote-Alin). Microbiota grows in mountainous areas, among rocks. It also occurs in the upper forest zone, among shrubs.
Cross-pair microbiota (M. decussata) - the only species of the genus. It is a light-loving plant that prefers neutral or moderately moist fertile soils. Well tolerates exposure to direct sunlight, without suffering from sunburn. Not afraid of low temperatures. Used to create decorative garden compositions as a ground cover plant. Looks good in the lower tier of group compositions from conifers.
There are 8 types of cross-pair microbiota. All of them are obtained by breeding and are quite rare protected plants. In our country, you can see only 2 out of 8 varieties of these evergreen shrubs.
Microbiota Gold Spot (Goldspot) - differs in the color of the branches. In summer they are light yellow in color. In the autumn-winter period, the color becomes richer.
Microbiota Jakobsen (Denmark) - differs in the density of the bush and vertical growth. By the age of 10, the shrub reaches a height of half a meter. The shoots of the Jakobsen microbiota are twisted and covered with pointed, needle-shaped leaves - needles. For this feature, the plant received the name "witch's broom" from the local population.
