Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus archboldii is an evergreen tree that can grow 40 metres or more tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 150cm in diameter. The largest trees occur in closed forests dominated by Castanopsis species with a canopy to 50 metres tall; trees become smaller and stunted in 'mossy forest' which often occurs on mountain ridge tops over rocky terrain[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its valuable wood, which is used locally and also traded.
Although is has a wide distribution, Podocarpus archboldii is limited to about 10 known location. Its logging history and potential utility makes it likely that there is a continuing decline of large mature trees in those areas of its distribution that have been intensively logged. The planting of individual trees in villages may indicate that is has become rare in the surrounding countryside. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago

Habitat

A canopy tree occurring scattered or locally common in evergreen tropical montane forest; at elevations from 720 - 2,600 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Export of round-wood of this species from Papua New Guinea is banned by law, so most logs will be taken to local sawmills and cut there[].
This species has been found either spared from felling in the forest or planted in village dancing grounds[].
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

Podocarpus archboldii is a valuable timber tree where it attains large sizes with a clear, straight bole. Its wood is used as roundwood for masts, spars and poles, in house construction as beams, in high-grade construction for flooring, joinery and other carpentry, for furniture and cabinet work, veneer, to make boxes, and for match sticks. Its traditional uses include village house construction, household utensils and wood carving[].

This species is one of several that are traded collectively under the name 'podo'. The general description of podo wood is as follows:-
The heartwood is light yellow with a greenish tinge or light golden brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is very fine and even; the grain is straight. The wood can vary considerably in hardness and density; it is fairly strong; non-durable under exposed conditions. It seasons well without serious degrade. It is easy to work with hand and machine tools; planed surfaces are smooth and lustrous. The wood is suitable for many decorative purposes, interior finishings, panelling, high class furniture and cabinets, fancy plywood and flooring[].

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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