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Useful Tropical Plants

Podocarpus oleifolius

D.Don

Podocarpaceae


An extremely variable species in which the size of the leaf varies enormously depending on the habitat and elevation[
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.
]. This and other variations have been used by some authorities to recognise various taxa. The following names have been used: Podocarpus macrostachys Parl., Podocarpus oleifolius var macrostachyus (Parl.) J. Buchholz & N.E. Gray, Podocarpus oleifolius var costaricensis J. Buchholz & N.E. Gray, Podocarpus oleifolius var equadorensis Silba, Podocarpus ingensis de Laubenfels and Podocarpus monteverdeensis de Laubenfels. Many of the characters used to describe these taxa fall within the morphological variation of Podocarpus oleifolius; it is not unusual to find this amount of variation is such a widely distributed species[
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.
].

Assessment Information [top]

+ Synonyms

Nageia oleifolia (D.Don ex Lamb.) Kuntze

Podocarpus macrostachys Parl.

Podocarpus monteverdeensis Laub.

Common Name: Saucecillo

Podocarpus oleifolius
Foliage
Photograph by: C T Johansson
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Podocarpus oleifolius Podocarpus oleifolius Podocarpus oleifolius Podocarpus oleifolius Podocarpus oleifolius

General Information

Podocarpus oleifolius is an evergreen tree with a densely branched crown; it can grow 20 - 30 metres or more tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is up to 150cm 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.
,
434
Title
Flora of Peru
Publication
 
Author
Macbride. J.F.
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet.
]. At the highest elevations it forms a shrub or small tree in a canopy 2 - 8 metres tall[
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 wood is highly valued, the tree being harvested from the wild[
434
Title
Flora of Peru
Publication
 
Author
Macbride. J.F.
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet.
].
Although like most members of the Podocarpaceae it is exploited for its timber, this exploitation is not sufficient to threaten such a very widespread species which is often locally abundant. This species is designated as being of 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[
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

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/

Range

S. America - Bolivia; Peru; Colombia; Ecuador; Venezuela, through Central America to Mexico.

Habitat

Wet forests at elevations of 1,400 - 2,700 metres in Costa Rica[
369
Title
Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C.
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year
1938
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
]. Cloud forests at elevations of 2,000 - 3,200 metres in Guatemala[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height15.00 m
PollinatorsWind
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Podocarpus oleifolius is a plant of moderate to high elevations in the American tropics. Within its range, the mean annual temperature is 16.8°c, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 10.0°c, and a mean annual precipitation of 1,940mm. It can tolerate short-lived, light frosts with temperatures falling to around -1°c and +4.4°c[
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.
].
Plants are shade tolerant, at least when young[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Most species in this genus are tolerant of hard pruning, being able to regrow from old wood[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
All parts of the plant emit an unpleasant aroma[
369
Title
Flora of Costa Rica
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C.
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year
1938
ISBN
 
Description
Rather dated, but an excellent treatment of the area. Available for download from the internet.
].
Species in this genus are generally slow-growing[
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

The yellow wood has a fine, uniform structure and is easy to work[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is used for cabinet work, carving and general carpentry[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
We do not have any more information on the wood of this species, but a general description of the wood from S. American members of the genus is as follows:-
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; the grain is usually straight but may be slightly interlocked; somewhat lustrous; odour and taste are absent or not distinctive in seasoned wood. The heartwood from trees grown in Belize is reported to be moderately durable in ground contact under tropical exposure; durability of other species from other areas is reported as low. The wood air seasons rapidly with little or no warping or checking. It works easily with hand and power tools; nails easily, and takes stain, varnish, and paint satisfactorily. It is used for purposes such as joinery, millwork, furniture components, boxes and crates, general construction, veneer and plywood, pulp and paper, patternmaking[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
].

Propagation

Seed - generally slow to germinate, taking one year or more[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Seeds that have passed through the gut of an animal germinate faster[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cuttings should include an erect lead shoot if a good form is required[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. If side shoots are used, the resulting plant will be prostrate[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-13. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Podocarpus+oleifolius>

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