Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus glomeratus is an evergreen tree with a densely-branched crown; it can grow up to 12 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be around 35cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local and commercial use of its wood.
Although this species has a relatively large extent of occurrence, it is only known from a few localities and its distribution is poorly known. At higher altitudes its small habit makes it less likely to be exploited for timber. At lower altitudes larger trees are selectively felled in some parts of its range and it also occurs in areas that have been heavily impacted by conversion for agriculture. Until more detailed information is available, the plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador

Habitat

High montane to subalpine forests and woodland or scrub, at elevations from 1,800 metres (but generally above 2,500 metres) to 3,600 metres[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

At elevations above 3,000 metres this species is dwarfed and shrubby; below this it is a constituent of cloud forest rich in epiphytes, especially mosses and lichens. The forests are highly fragmented[]
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

The wood of this species is locally exploited for the making of furniture and cabinets, the smaller and more crooked trunks and branches for firewood[].

We do not have a specific description for the wood, but the following is a general desciption of Podocarpus wood in the Americas:-
The heartwood is pale yellow to yellowish brown; it is not distinct from the sapwood. The texture is fine and uniform without conspicuous zones of latewood; somewhat lustrous; the grain is usually straight but may be slightly interlocked; odour or taste are absent or not distinctive in seasoned wood. The heartwood from trees grown in Belize is reported to be moderately durable with ground contact under tropical exposure. Durability of other species from elsewhere are reported as low. The wood air-seasons rapidly with little or no warping or checking. Movement in service is rated as small. It works easily with hand and power tools; nails easily; and takes stain, varnish, and paint satisfactorily. The wood is used for joinery, millwork, furniture components, boxes and crates, general construction, veneer and plywood, pulp and paper, pattern making[].

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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