Podocarpus latifolius
| Podocarpus latifolius | |
|---|---|
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| A mature Podocarpus latifolius growing in a Cape Town botanical garden. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Podocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Podocarpus |
| Species: | P. latifolius |
| Binomial name | |
| Podocarpus latifolius (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. |
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Podocarpus latifolius (Broad-leaved Yellowwood or Real Yellowwood) is a large evergreen tree up to 35 m high and 3 m trunk diameter, in the conifer family Podocarpaceae; it is the type species of the genus Podocarpus.
It is native to the moister southern and eastern areas of South Africa, from coastal areas of the Western Cape east to KwaZulu-Natal and north to eastern Limpopo. The Real Yellowwood has been declared the national tree of South Africa.
The leaves are strap-shaped, 25–40 mm long on mature trees, larger, to 100 mm long, on vigorous young trees, and 6–12 mm broad, with a bluntly pointed tip. The cones of this dioecious tree are berry-like, with a single (rarely two) 7–11 mm seed apical on an 8–14 mm pink-purple aril; the aril is edible and sweet. The male (pollen) cones are 10–30 mm long.
It is a slow-growing tree. The wood is hard, similar to yew wood, used for furniture, panelling, etc. Due to past over-exploitation, little is now cut.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Podocarpus latifolius |
[edit] Pictures
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A young specimen growing on the slopes of Table Mountain.
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A close-up of the characteristic foliage of the Real Yellowwood.
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An old and weathered specimen on a Drakensberg mountain slope.
[edit] References
- Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Podocarpus latifolius. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- South Africa State Symbols
- "Podocarpus latifolius". Plantz Afrika. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podocarplati.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
