Podocarpus guatemalensis

Botanical Description

Podocarpus guatemalensis is an evergreen tree with a spreading crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The bole is unbuttressed and often somewhat fluted; it can be unbranched for up to 12 metres and up to 70cm in diameter[ 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/ , 378 Title Present and Potential Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean Publication USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 207 Author Longwood.F.R. Publisher USDA Forest Service; Washington, DC. Year 1962 ISBN Description Quite detailed information on more than 60 species of Caribbean timber trees, giving species descriptions, habitat, detailed info on the wood and some info on other uses. Available for download on the internet. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is used locally and also exported. This one of the most widespread species of Podocarpus, with a sporadic distribution from Ecuador in the south to as far north as Veracruz and Oaxaca in Mexico. It is occasionally reported as fairly common at localities and is known to occur within several protected areas. It has also been reported to be locally threatened by logging and to suffer a reduction of the extent of its habitat from agricultural expansion - it is assessed as locally Vulnerable or Critically Endangered in some countries. Despite this decline within parts of its range, the global assessment is still Least Concern, mainly due to its wide distribution. However, the next assessment could find that this species qualifies for listing in a more threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 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. ].