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Useful Tropical Plants

Dacrydium gracile

de Laub.

Podocarpaceae

+ Synonyms

Corneria gracilis (de Laub.) A.V.Bobrov & Melikyan

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Dacrydium gracile is an evergreen tree usually growing 7 - 30 metres tall, The straight, cylindrical bole can be around 40cm in diameter[
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.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local and probably also commercial use of its wood.
Dacrydium gracile is a large tree with a distribution which appears to be highly localized within a narrow altitudinal range. Trees are hard to distinguish from other Dacrydium species and so are likely to be cut wherever accessible for construction timber. Populations on Mt. Kinabalu are almost entirely contained within the national park and so are relatively well protected. The proportion of the total population within the protected area is uncertain. Outside of the national park it occurs in forest types that have been or are vulnerable to logging but the impact on the number of individuals and area of occupancy is uncertain. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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.

Range

Southeast Asia - Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak)

Habitat

Scattered in lower montane rainforest, growing on soils poor in nutrients ('kerangas' forest); in Sarawak it occurs in low canopy 'heath' forest on sandstone; at elevations from 950 - 1,800 metres[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusNear Threatened
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
PollinatorsWind
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


The plant is often found in the wild in Kerangas forest - a type of moist, heath forest found on acidic, sandy soils that are low in nutrients, especially nitrogen[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
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 uses have been recorded of this species; it is assumed to be of value for its timber like other species in the genus that grow into tall forest trees. Its protected status within Mt. Kinabalu National Park makes exploitation at least of these trees unlikely; outside this protected area it may be logged[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Trees are hard to distinguish from other Dacrydium species and so are likely to be cut wherever accessible for construction timber[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
The wood of the various Dacrydium species is jointly known as 'sempilor'. The basic description is as follows:-
The heartwood is buff in colour, sometimes with a pink tinge or golden brown; it is not differentiated from the sapwood. The texture is very fine and even; the grain straight. The wood is reputed to be weak; it is light to moderately heavy in weight; it is not durable and is subject to drywood termite attacks. It seasons well without serious degrade; shrinkage is very high; a slight to moderate twisting may occasionally occur. The wood works very easily; it produces a smooth and somewhat lustrous surface; gluing, nailing and peeling properties are satisfactory. A softwood, it should be suitable for decorative works and can be used for panelling, partitioning, veneers, plywood, joinery and furniture making[
996
Title
A Dictionary of Malaysian Timbers
Publication
Malayan Forest Records No. 30
Author
Wong T.M.
Website
http://Elaeocarpaceae
Publisher
Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur
Year
2002
ISBN
983-2181-29-1
Description
A fairly comprehensive guide to Malaysian timbers, giving their properties and the main tree species from which they are obtained.
].

Propagation

The seed can be sown at any time of the year in a sandy soil in a warm greenhouse, though it is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. 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[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Dacrydium+gracile>

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