Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus borneensis is an evergreen tree usually growing from 5 - 12 metres tall but sometimes reaching 23 metres and occasionally no more than a shrub 2 metres tall. The bole can vary from 3 - 21cm in diameter[].

Where Podocarpus borneensis occurs in lowland kerangas forest, there is likely to have been some decline due to conversion of forest for oil plantations and other uses. However, the majority of trees and subpopulations occur on mountain ridges in ‘mossy forest’ and where these are situated in remoter parts of the interior decline is unlikely to occur. It is believed that most locations are not threatened and the species does not meet the criteria for a threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak), Indonesia (Kalimantan)

Habitat

Locally common or even dominant on mossy rocky ridges, or scattered in nearby forest, in high kerangas forest and on white, sandy soils; at elevations from 700 - 2,070 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Podocarpus borneensis occurs in mossy forest on mountain ridges, often in rocky, exposed sites as a small or stunted tree. Downslope, where the forest becomes taller and has a closed canopy, scattered trees may reach into the canopy and attain 20 metres or more. It also occurs in 'keranga' forest on nearly white sand and it was once or twice collected from swamp forest at low elevations[]
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

Where it is abundant, like on the Merurong Plateau, its wood is locally used for construction of houses and other carpentry work[].
The wood of this species belongs to a group of timbers known collectively as '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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