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Taiwania cryptomerioides
Coffin tree, Taiwania cryptomerioides (Cupressaceae), is a rare, dimorphic-leafed conifer; the exceptionally light wood is used in the making of coffins in its native Taiwan.
The prickly, juvenile leaves of Taiwania resemble the foliage of the closely related (and more garden-familiar) Cryptomeria japonica ("sugi"). Taiwania cones don't appear until specialized branches with flattened, scale-like leaves are produced. Coffin trees in the David C. Lam Asian Garden show the typical, beautiful blue foliage of the species, but despite many being more than 20 years in the ground, none yet exhibits the distinctive dimorphism.