Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus laubenfelsii is an evergreen tree that can grow from 14 - 35 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 20 - 60cm in diameter[].
A valuable timber, it is commonly harvested from the wild and traded together with related species as 'podp' wood.
Podocarpus laubenfelsii is only known from fewer than 15 herbarium collections made in four locations, among which just one, Mt. Kinabalu, is protected as a National Park. Logging of this valuable timber tree is ongoing but unsustainable due to its slow growth. It may also be affected by deforestation, especially at its lower elevation limits. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

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

Habitat

Scattered in 'keranga' forest, often on nutrient-poor and/or water-logged, acidic soils; also scattered in primary rainforest and mossy forest; growing as a large emergent tree on rocky ridges; at elevations from 600 - 1,650 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

This species attains large sizes in primary lower montane rainforest and is consequently a valuable timber tree logged and traded as other 'podocarp' trees, without distinction to species or even genus. The excellent wood of Podocarps is used for house construction and carpentry and for making oars, spars and masts of sailing vessels. More specialized uses requiring high grade timber are veneer, furniture making, cabinet making, interior trim, 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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