Saw-leaf Zelkova of Haengchon-ri, Gimje

Basic information

Designation

Natural Monument No.280

Category

동식물

Designated year

1982

Location

김제시, 전북특별자치도— 전북 김제시 봉남면 행촌2길 89 (행촌리)

Coordinates

35.730037, 126.965848

Growing in warm areas such as temperate and subtropical regions, Zelkova is distributed in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China. Its flowers bloom in May, and its fruit, which is disk-shaped, gets ripe in October. This Saw-leaf Zelkova serves as a shady resting place and it has long been worshipped by the local community as a village guardian. The tree is presumed to be 600 years old, with height of 15m and girth of 8.5m and a big hole with diameter of 2m lies at the lower part of the tree. Once upon a time, a Buddhist monk named Baepung called the tree Iksantae. Today, it is called Banwoltae. Villagers wished for good luck on the 15th of the New Year by engaging in a tug-of-war under the tree. The saw-leaf zelkova of Haengchon-ri has thrived under the attention and care of villagers for a long time, and it is valued highly for its folklore and biological implication. Therefore, the tree is designated and protected as a Natural Monument.

Location