Podocarpus salomoniensis

Botanical Description

Podocarpus salomoniensis is an evergreen tree growing to around 15 metres tall. The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood. The distribution and abundance of Podocarpus salomoniensis are poorly known and it is uncertain if it is relatively common or widespread within the Solomon Islands. To date, the majority of herbarium collections have been made in lowland or submontane rainforest. Currently it is only known for certain from three islands although it is likely to occur on others. Lowland rainforest in the Solomons has been the subject of exploitation since the 1960s but the impact of this exploitation on this species is uncertain so that it is difficult to quantify any decline that has, or will occur. Mining threatens local subpopulations on islands such as San Jorge where the ultrabasic vegetation has largely been destroyed, whilst loss of habitat from shifting agriculture may also have had an impact. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' 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. ].