Podocarpus latifolius

? Podocarpus latifolius LR/lc Fossil range: {{{fossil_range}}}
Podocarpus latifolius in the Drakensberg
Plant Info
Common name(s): {{{common_names}}} Growth habit: {{{growth_habit}}} Height: ⇕ {{{high}}} Width: ⇔ {{{wide}}} Lifespan: ⌛ {{{lifespan}}} Exposure: ☼ {{{exposure}}} Water: ☂ {{{water}}} Features: ❀ {{{features}}} Poisonous: ☠ {{{poisonous}}} Hardiness: ❆ {{{hardiness}}} USDA Zones: {{{usda_zones}}} Sunset Zones: {{{sunset_zones}}}
Scientific classification
Domain: {{{domain}}} Superkingdom: {{{superregnum}}} Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: {{{subregnum}}} Superdivision: {{{superdivisio}}} Superphylum: {{{superphylum}}} Division: Pinophyta Phylum: {{{phylum}}} Subdivision: {{{subdivisio}}} Subphylum: {{{subphylum}}} Infraphylum: {{{infraphylum}}} Microphylum: {{{microphylum}}} Nanophylum: {{{nanophylum}}} Superclass: {{{superclassis}}} Class: Pinopsida Sublass: {{{subclassis}}} Infraclass: {{{infraclassis}}} Superorder: {{{superordo}}} Order: Pinales Suborder: {{{subordo}}} Infraorder: {{{infraordo}}} Superfamily: {{{superfamilia}}} Family: Podocarpaceae Subfamily: {{{subfamilia}}} Supertribe: {{{supertribus}}} Tribe: {{{tribus}}} Subtribe: {{{subtribus}}} Genus: Podocarpus Subgenus: {{{subgenus}}} Section: {{{sectio}}} Series: {{{series}}} Species: P. latifolius Subspecies: {{{subspecies}}}
[[{{{diversity_link}}}|Diversity]]
{{{diversity}}}
Binomial name
Podocarpus latifolius (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb.
Trinomial name
{{{trinomial}}}
Type Species
{{{type_species}}}
{{{subdivision_ranks}}}
[[Image:{{{range_map}}}|{{{range_map_width}}}|]]
Synonyms
{{{synonyms}}}

Podocarpus latifolius (Broad-leaved Yellowwood or Real Yellowwood) is a large evergreen tree up to 35 m high and 3 m trunk diameter, in the conifer family Podocarpaceae; it is the type species of the genus Podocarpus.

It is native to the moister southern and eastern areas of South Africa, from coastal Western Cape Province east to KwaZulu-Natal Province and north to eastern Limpopo Province. The Real Yellowwood has been declared the national tree of South Africa.

The leaves are strap-shaped, 25–40 mm long on mature trees, larger, to 100 mm long, on vigorous young trees, and 6–12 mm broad, with a bluntly pointed tip. The cones are berry-like, with a single (rarely two) 7–11 mm seed apical on an 8–14 mm pink-purple aril; the aril is edible and sweet. The male (pollen) cones are 10–30 mm long.

It is a slow-growing tree. The wood is hard, similar to yew wood, used for furniture, panelling, etc. Due to past over-exploitation, little is now cut.

References

• Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Podocarpus latifolius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
• South Africa State Symbols