Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus hispaniolensis is an evergreen tree that can grow 10 metres or more tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 100cm in diameter.
The wood of this species is highly valued for construction, the tree is commonly harvested from the wild for commercial use.
The forest habitat of Podocarpus hispaniolensis is severely threatened, primarily as a result of logging activities in order to clear land for agriculture. Due to the high value of its timber, old-growth trees are selectively logged. The population occurs in about five locations and is severely fragmented. There is a continuing decline in its range and quality of habitat: on this basis the plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Caribbean - Dominican Republic

Habitat

Broadleaved evergreen rainforest often with the palm Prestoea montana; at elevations from 750 - 1,620 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus are generally slow-growing[].
A dioecious species; both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The timber is highly valued for construction[].

We do not have a specific description for the wood, but the following is a general desciption of Podocarpus wood in the Americas:-
The heartwood is pale yellow to yellowish brown; it is not distinct from the sapwood. The texture is fine and uniform without conspicuous zones of latewood; somewhat lustrous; the grain is usually straight but may be slightly interlocked; odour or taste are absent or not distinctive in seasoned wood. The heartwood from trees grown in Belize is reported to be moderately durable with ground contact under tropical exposure. Durability of other species from elsewhere are reported as low. The wood air-seasons rapidly with little or no warping or checking. Movement in service is rated as small. It works easily with hand and power tools; nails easily; and takes stain, varnish, and paint satisfactorily. The wood is used for joinery, millwork, furniture components, boxes and crates, general construction, veneer and plywood, pulp and paper, pattern making[].

Propagation

The seed can be sown at any time of the year in a sandy soil, though it is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 10cm long, in a frame[].

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