Afrocarpus gracilior
(Pilg.) C.N.Page
Podocarpaceae
Afrocarpus gracilior has been treated as a synonym of the south African species Afrocarpus falcatus by some botanists. However, these species are not only geographically separated but also distinct in several, albeit minor, morphological characters. They are maintained as separate species here following Farjon, A. 2010. A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Afrocarpus falcatus gracilior (Pilg.) Silba
Decussocarpus gracilior (Pilg.) de Laub.
Nageia falcata gracilior (Pilg.) Silba
Podocarpus gracilior Pilg.
Common Name:
General Information
Afrocarpus gracilior is an evergreen tree with a broad, domed crown developing in mature trees; it grows up to 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 250cm in diameter[
329- Title
- The Gymnosperm Database
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- A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms.
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An important timber tree in eastern Africa, where the timber is exported as well as used locally.
Afrocarpus gracilior has a wide distribution in northeast and east Africa and is common in many places. Deforestation, rather than selective logging, appears to be the major threat to this species, but its very wide distribution and commonality make it unlikely to be threatened with extinction. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
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- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
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Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
329- Title
- The Gymnosperm Database
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- http://www.conifers.org/index.htm
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- Description
- A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms.
Range
Eastern tropical Africa - Ethiopia, Sudan, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania
Habitat
A co-dominant tree in montane evergreen rainforest; at elevations from 1,500 - 2,600 metres[[
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- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
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- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
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- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Properties
Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Tree |
Height | 30.00 m |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Pollinators | Wind |
Self-fertile | No |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Within the range of Afrocarpus gracilior, the mean annual temperature is 16.8°c, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 8.7°c, and a mean annual precipitation of 1148mm. The plant can withstand light frosts when dormant, tolerating occasional temperatures falling to between -1°c and +4.4°c[
329- Title
- The Gymnosperm Database
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- Author
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- Website
- http://www.conifers.org/index.htm
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms.
].
Succeeds in sun or light shade, young plants tolerating fairly deep shade[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- http://www.prota.org
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Prefers a well-drained, deep, humus-rich and light-textured soil[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- http://www.prota.org
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- Year
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
]. Plants cannot tolerate drought[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- Author
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- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
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- Year
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
This species has been introduced from Ethiopia as a forestry plantation tree into other countries, including India, where trial plantations at Dehra Dun were begun in the early years of the twentieth century[
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- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
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- Author
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- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
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- Year
- 0
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- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
In northern Ethiopia it is also often planted in church compounds to provide shade and shelter for the congregation[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
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- Author
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- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. It is a moderately common ornamental in southern California, and perhaps in other warm areas[
329- Title
- The Gymnosperm Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.conifers.org/index.htm
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms.
].
When transplanting the seedling into the open ground, care must be taken not to damage the taproot, as it will result in a long period, sometimes up to a year, during which the tree will show no growth[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
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- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
A fast growing species, with a mean annual increment of up to 1 metre for the first 15 years; the growth rate is higher under natural conditions in higher rainfall areas and can be very fast under garden conditions[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
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- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
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- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Trees can commence fruiting when they are about 10 years old from seed[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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-
- Author
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- http://www.prota.org
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- Year
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. It can take about 12 months for the seed to develop and it can then hang on the tree for a considerable time[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
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-
- Year
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. There is typically heavy seeding at intervals of 2 - 4 years[
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- World Agroforesty Centre
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-
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- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
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- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
On good sites trees should be large enough for harvesting for their wood 40 - 50 years after planting[
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- World Agroforesty Centre
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-
- Author
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- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
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- Year
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- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Trees live for a long time - perhaps 600 years[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
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- Year
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- Author
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- http://www.prota.org
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- Year
- 0
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Edible Uses
The ripe fruit is edible, but resinous[
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- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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,
].
Edible oil has been extracted from the seeds in Ethiopia[
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- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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].
Medicinal
The bark and seeds are used in traditional medicine[
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- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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Bark decoctions or infusions are used as anodyne, also to treat diarrhoea and stomach-ache[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- Author
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- http://www.prota.org
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- Year
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
].
A bark decoction is also applied to itching rash[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- http://www.prota.org
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Pulverized seeds are applied to treat tuberculoid meningitis and sunburn[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- Author
-
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- http://www.prota.org
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- Year
- 0
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
In Ethiopia the seed oil is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
The sap is used as a remedy for chest complaints[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
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- http://www.plantzafrica.com
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- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
,
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree is very useful for soil protection against water erosion[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- Author
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- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
It is also planted to provide shade, shelter and as a windbreak[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Other Uses
The bark has been used for tanning, although it only contains 3 - 6% tannin[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
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- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The leaves contain podolide, which is a main ingredient for an insecticide[
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- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
].
The heartwood is pale yellow to pale yellowish brown, and not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is straight, occasionally spirally, texture fine and even[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- http://www.prota.org
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]. The wood is moderately lightweight; easy to saw and work, both by machine and hand tools, with little dulling effects on cutting edges; it can be planed to a smooth finish; the wood has a tendency to split upon nailing, and pre-boring is recommended; the gluing, painting, varnishing and staining properties are moderately good. The wood is not durable, being susceptible to blue stain, powder-post beetle, pinhole borer, longhorn beetle, termite and marine borer attacks. The wood is highly valued for ship building, but it is also used for poles, panelling, furniture, boxes, veneer and plywood. It is suitable for construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, mine props, vehicle bodies, railway sleepers, toys, novelties, agricultural implements, musical instruments, food containers, vats, turnery, hardboard and particle board[
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- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
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- http://www.prota.org
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- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The wood is a good fuel[
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,
].
Propagation
Seed - remains viable for several years in normal storage.
The seed has two types of dormancy; a chemical, which is overcome by removing the fleshy layer and a mechanical, imposed by the hard seedcoat. To ensure a high and even germination the seedcoat must be broken and removed. This can be done in a vice but it is very time-consuming. Freshly collected seeds will normally germinate well, up to 60% in nine weeks, even with seedcoat but once the seeds have been dried, germination can take more than six months unless the seedcoat is removed. Some reports say that soaking in saturated salt water just before sowing can improve germination. Others recommend stratification between two layers of compost for 3 - 5 days in order to weaken the seedcoat[
]. The seeds are sown directly in nursery bags or in seedbeds in a mixture of compost and sand (1:1). The seed must be pushed into the mixture and covered with a fine layer of soil. The mixture must never be allowed to dry out[
].
Cuttings taken from end shoots (as opposed to cuttings from lateral branches and shoots) in order to produce plants with upright growth[
].