Common Name:

General Information

Podocarpus parlatorei is an evergreen tree that can grow from 15 - 30 metres tall. The bole is straight and cylindrical; branches are often produced from near the grouns; it can be up to 70cm in diameter[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its good quality wood, which is used locally and also commonly traded. It is also used as a living fence and is a natural pioneer specis that can be used to restore native woodland.
Historically this species was subject to heavy logging for its timber, which led to its inclusion in CITES Appendix I in 1975. Today it is mainly threatened by loss of habitat due to human-set fires associated with the management of grassland areas for livestock ranching, although it is also an important commercial timber. However, generally speaking this species is an effective pioneer species, and abundant regeneration usually occurs following large-scale disturbances of anthropogenic and natural origin. 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 - Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina.

Habitat

A cold-tolerant pioneer species occurring on the edges of forests and in areas of disturbance, at elevations varying from 1,200 to 3,000 metres[]. Found in tropical, montane, moist, closed forest, and cloud forest[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	22.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A slow-growing species, with 3 - 5mm increases in bole diameter per year[].
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

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used as a living fence around houses, pastures etc[].
A cold-tolerant pioneer species that is capable of regenerating following large-scale disturbances; for example, it is the most abundant species in post-grazing secondary forests in its native range. Ecological studies on forest dynamics has shown that the tree rarely regenerates within the closed canopy of mature forests but instead abundant regeneration occurs in open areas after large-scale disturbances. Recruitment is intense at forest edges but absent in grassland areas due to a lack of major dispersal agents. As a pioneer and long-lived tree, it is an important forest component in facilitating the establishment of many other shade-tolerant species[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is slightly pink to reddish; the sapwood is yellowish-white. The grain is straight; the lustre medium; there is no distinctive taste or aroma. The wood is light in weight; soft; durable, especially if kept dry. It is easy to work and finishes well. The wood is a major source of material for making pencils and is also used commercially for purposes such as construction, furniture, flooring, decorative veneer; locally, it is used for posts, utensils, house construction etc[, , ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

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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