Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus salicifolius is an evergreen tree. When growing in dense rainforest it can attain 30 metres as a canopy tree, but in cloud forest on steep slopes it usually remains much smaller, up to 12 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood.
The as yet imprecisely known distribution of Podocarpus salicifolius indicates that its extent of occurrence is very large. In northern Venezuela it is relatively common, occasionally dominating the canopy of the forests, where it is present in several protected areas not far from the capital Caracas. There are no indications of recent decline in the global population. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, northern Brazil

Habitat

Montane to upper montane rain forest or cloud forest; at elevations from 1,200 - 2,150 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 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

No commercial uses are reported of this species, but large trees will undoubtedly be logged for their timber, as are other podocarps. The wood is suitable for construction, general carpentry, and furniture making[].

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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