Podocarpus oleifolius
Podocarpaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Podocarpus oleifolius

Podocarpus oleifolius

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical
Native RangeS. America - Bolivia; Peru; Colombia; Ecuador; Venezuela, through Central America to Mexico.
HabitatWet 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/ ].