Podocarpus neriifolius D. Don
Family
Podocarpaceae
Synonyms
Podocarpus discolor Blume, Podocarpus leptostachya Blume, Podocarpus neglecta Blume, Podocarpus decipiens N.E. Gray, Podocarpus polyantha (Wasscher) Gaussen.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Podo bukit, jati bukit (Peninsular), ki beling (Sabah). |
| Indonesia | Antok (Java), beberas (Sumatra), kayu cina (Irian Jaya). |
| Thailand | Phayamai (General), phailamton (North-eastern), khunmai (Eastern). |
| Philippines |
Mala adelfa (General). |
| Myanmar | Thitmin. |
| Laos | Ka dong |
Geographical Distributions
Podocarpus neriifolius is the most widespread species of the genus, occurring from Nepal, India, Indo-China and Thailand, throughout Malesia, towards the Solomon Islands and Fiji; also planted in gardens.
Description
Podocarpus neriifolius is a medium-sized to fairly large tree which can reach up to 35(-45) m tall. Its bole is columnar, branchless for up to 22 m and measuring up to 100 cm in diametre. It is rarely spurred or even buttressed while the surface of the bark is greyish-brown. The foliage buds are ovate, acute or blunt and often with spreading scales.
The juvenile leaves are acuminate. The adult leaves are with a size of (7-)8-18 cm x (1.0-)1.11.8 cm, abruptly raised above midrib and measuring (0.4-)0.6-0.8 mm wide. The pollen cones are solitary or in two or three and sessile. The receptacle is red when mature.
Ecology / Cultivation
Podocarpus neriifolius is a variable species that is not always easily distinguishable from P. polystachyus. It occurs scattered but may be locally common in primary rainforests, generally on rocky hilltops, in sandstone or latosols (Java) or in ultra basic soils, also near rivers, from sea level up to 2100 m altitude. It usually appears as an understorey tree with occasional specimens emerging into the canopy, but it is normally encountered as a canopy tree, e.g. in Java. The density of the wood is 415-790 kg/m3 at 15% moisture content.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 5(2): Timber trees: Minor commercial timbers.
