Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus lambertii is an evergreen tree with an open, vase-shaped crown; it can grow 8 - 25 metres tall. The short, slightly crooked bole can be 30 - 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of food, medicines and wood. It can be used as a pioneer species when restoring woodland and, as an ornamental tree, it can be used in landscaping[].
Podocarpus lambertii has a large range, though human influence is fairly high, especially near the coast, where habitat and individual trees are likely to have disappeared. It is suspected that rates of population decline over three generations may approach the threshold (20-29%) for inclusion in a threatened category, and it is therefore warranted to flag this species as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Semideciduous forests and Araucaria forests, most commonly in more open, secondary formations such as stony grassland, scrub, wet and peaty areas, streamsides, sometimes growing in almost pure groups[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Podocarpus lambertii can withstand occasional, short-lived frosts with temperatures falling to around -1°c and +4.4°c[].
Grows best in a sunny position[].
Trees have a moderate rate of growth[].
The plant's small, narrow leaves are adapted to periods of drought[].
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

Fruit - raw[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the leaves is used to combat anaemia, diseases of the glands and fatigue[].
A syrup made from the leaf buds is a good tonic and stimulant[].

A resin obtained from the plant is anticatarrhal, blood purifier, diaphoretic and diuretic[]. It is used in the treatment of disorders of the bladder[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can succeeds in full sun, have a moderate rate of growth and are also a source of food for the local flora. They can be used as pioneers when restoring native woodland[].

Other Uses

The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, light in weight, soft, with a low resistance to rot and the attacks of termites. It can be used for carpentry and for making toys, match sticks, boxes, pencils, linings, plywood etc[].
We do not have any more information on the wood of this species, but a general description of the wood from S. American members of the genus is as follows:-
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; the grain is usually straight but may be slightly interlocked; somewhat lustrous; odour and taste are absent or not distinctive in seasoned wood. The heartwood from trees grown in Belize is reported to be moderately durable in ground contact under tropical exposure; durability of other species from other areas is reported as low. The wood air seasons rapidly with little or no warping or checking. It works easily with hand and power tools; nails easily, and takes stain, varnish, and paint satisfactorily. It is used for purposes such as joinery, millwork, furniture components, boxes and crates, general construction, veneer and plywood, pulp and paper, patternmaking[].

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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