Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus insularis is an evergreen tree that can range in height from 3 - 39 metres according to habitat. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 24 metres in large trees and around 20 - 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for commercial use of its wood.
The status of this species will remain difficult to assess because it is not often recognized in the field and our knowledge is mostly derived from herbarium collections, some misidentified. It is obviously very scattered on several dispersed archipelagos in the western Pacific. Deforestation and logging may have had negative effects on the population, but on the other hand many locations appear to be in relatively or totally undisturbed forest. Some of its habitat is less likely to be logged. Its huge extent of occurrence makes it likely that it will turn up on more islands than is presently known. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Solomon Islands

Habitat

A canopy tree in sub-montane to montane rainforest, usually scattered, but locally common, attaining considerable size in sheltered forests, but a low, stunted tree on exposed mountain ridges; at elevations from near sea level to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 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

Larger specimen trees yield valuable timber, used for light construction, carpentry, boat building (especially oars), and flooring. This species is usually not recognized as distinct from Podocarpus neriifolius by foresters and loggers and simply taken as podocarp wood[].

This species is one of several that are traded collectively under the name 'podo'. The general description of podo wood is as follows:-
The heartwood is light yellow with a greenish tinge or light golden brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is very fine and even; the grain is straight. The wood can vary considerably in hardness and density; it is fairly strong; non-durable under exposed conditions. It seasons well without serious degrade. It is easy to work with hand and machine tools; planed surfaces are smooth and lustrous. The wood is suitable for many decorative purposes, interior finishings, panelling, high class furniture and cabinets, fancy plywood and flooring[].

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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