Common Name:

General Information

Dacrycarpus steupii is an evergreen tree with a conical crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall, though trees are sometimes stunted. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 15 - 100cm in diameter, free of branches for up to 22 metres[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for commercial use of its wood.
The estimated extent of occurrence is huge due to the outlying subpopulations, of which one has recently become extinct. However, the area of occupancy is estimated to be near the threshold for Vulnerable (but may be larger as new localities can still be expected to be found) and there is a continuous inferred decline due to deforestation. It almost qualifies for listing in a threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to New Guinea

Habitat

Preferring sheltered gullies in disturbed forests, or in poorly drained areas where it may form nearly pure stands, in boggy grasslands and reed-swamps, on sandy clay; at elevations from 860 - 3,420 metres, but mostly 1,500 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Large trees will be valuable timber and have undoubtedly been logged for this purpose. Its wood is probably not distinguished from other members of the family and traded as 'podocarp' wood. Its properties and uses would be similar to those of Dacrycarpus imbricatus and particularly useful for construction of houses and making of furniture[].

The wood from the various species of Dacrycarpus is very similar and is generally lumped together as 'podocarpus wood'.. The only description we have is for Dacrycarpus imbricatus, which is as follows:-

The wood is fine-grained, resistant to termites and insects, easy to work[]. Of moderate quality, it is used for construction, furniture making, boxes, plywood and construction timber[, ].

Propagation

The aril surrounding the seed possibly contains germination inhibitors, and so should be removed from the seed as soon as possible[]. Sow the seed in light shade in a nursery seedbed. Germination can take from 2 - 13 weeks[].
Rooting of cuttings can be done from coppice material. In a test 7 - 10cm long cuttings were root dipped in ABT. After 3 months 80% of the cuttings had rooted successfully[].

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