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Podocarpus (Greek, pous, podos, foot, and karpos, fruit; alluding to the conspicuous fleshy footstalks of most species). Including Nageia, Prumnopitys and Stachycarpus. Taxaceae. Ornamental woody plants grown for their evergreen foliage.
Resinous evergreen trees, rarely shrubs: lvs. alternate, sometimes opposite or 2-ranked, sessile or short-stalked, linear to elliptic, entire: fls. monoecious or dioecious, axillary or subterminal, solitary or in spikes; the staminate catkin-like, consisting of spirally disposed, 2- celled anthers; the pistillate consisting of a scale inclosing the ovule, with several bracts at the base, which become usually much thickened at maturity, and form a fleshy receptacle bearing at the top the globular or ovoid drupe- or nutlike seed: cotyledons 2.—Fifty-five species, chiefly in tropical and subtropical mountains of S. Amer., W. India, Asia, Afr., and Austral. Some species with the fls. in spikes and the fr. without fleshy receptacle are separated by some botanists as Prumnopitys (Stachycarpus). Many species are valuable timber trees in their native countries, and the fleshy seed-stalks of some are eaten.
The podocarpuses are evergreen often tall trees with usually narrow, rarely elliptic, dense foliage, small flowers, the staminate yellow, the pistillate greenish and inconspicuous, and with rather small, berry-like fruit borne on usually much thickened fleshy footstalks of dark purple or purplish violet color. They are but rarely cultivated in this country and only adapted for the southern states and California, except P. alpina, which is the hardiest and may probably thrive as far north as Philadelphia, or even farther. They grow best in well-drained loamy soil. In the North they are sometimes grown as pot-plants in greenhouses on account of their handsome foliage; a sandy compost of loam and peat will suit the potted plants. Propagation is by seeds or by cuttings of almost ripened wood under glass; they are also sometimes grafted on any of the species which can be had in quantity.
P. andina. Poepp. (Prumnopitys clegans, Phil. Stachycarpus andina, Van Tiegh.). Tree, attaining 20 ft., with upright or somewhat spreading branches: lvs. indistinctly 2-ranked, linear, dark green above, slightly glaucous beneath, 1/2 - 1 1/2 in. long: fia. in spikes; receptacle not fleshy. Chile. G.C. III. 31:121. J.H.S. 37, p. 52.—P. Bidwillii, Hoibr. P. spinulosa.—P. chilina, Rich. P. saligna.—P. coreana, Hort., incorrect spelling for P. koraiana Cephalotaxus Harringtonia var. fastigiata.—P. coriacea. Rich. Tree, attaining 50 ft., with spreading branches; allied to P. macrophylla: lvs. lanceolate, acuminate, 2—4 in. long: fr. ovoid. Jamaica, sometimes Cephalotaxus drupacea is cult, under this name.—P. dacrydioides, A. Rich. Tall tree: lvs. dimorphic, on young planta linear, spreading, 2-ranked,
1/6 - 1/4 in. long, on older plants shorter, imbricate, appressed or spreading: seed ovoid, small: receptacle scarlet, 1/6 in. long. New Zeal. G.W. 6, p. 594.—P. formosensis, Dummer, from Formosa, allied to P. Nagi, but with smaller and thicker, lance-elliptic, obtusely truncate lvs., is not yet intro. G.C. III. 52:295.—P. jamaicensis, Hort. P. Purdieana.—P. koraiana, Sieb.=Cephalotaxus Harringtonia var. fastigiata.—P. montana, Lodd. (P. taxifolia, Kunth. Prumnopitys taxifolia, Mast.). Tree, attaining 60 ft., with spreading branches: lvs. 2-ranked, linear, acute or obtuse, abruptly narrowed into a short petiole: fls. in spikes: no thickened receptacle. Peru, Colombia.— P. Nagi, Pilger (P. Nageia, R. Br. Nageia japonica, Gaertn.). Tree, attaining 90 ft., with spreading, sometimes pendulous branches: lvs. mostly opposite, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, short- acuminate, 2 — 3 1/2 in. long, bright green and glossy: fr. 3/4 in. across, subglobose. Japan. S.Z. 2:135. R.H. 1914. p. 77.—P. pectinata, Panch. (Acmopyle Pancheri, Pilger). Tree, to 60 ft. : lvs. dimorphic, either linear, obtuse or acute, with 2 white bands beneath, about 1/2 in. long, or minute, acuminate, scale-like, appressed: staminate fls. terminal: seed globose, 1/2 in. across, with a thickened receptacle. New Caledonia. B.M. 7854.—P. Purdieona, Hook. Tree, to 120 ft., with whorled horizontal branches: allied to P. macrophylla: lvs. oblanceolate, obtuse, mucronulate, bright green, 2-5 in. long, 3/4 in, wide. Jamaica. H.I. 7:624.—P. saligna, Don (P. chilina. Rich.). Tree, attaining 60 ft., allied to P. macrophylla: lvs. linear-lanceolate, acute, slightly falcate, 3—4 1/2 in. long: staminate fls. clustered, about 1 in. long. Chile, Peru.—P. spicata, R. Br. (Prumnopitys spicata. Mast. ). Tree, attaining 80 ft. : lvs. 2-ranked, linear, obtusish, sessile. 1/4 - 1/2 in. long: fls. in spikes; receptacle not thickened. New Zeal. H.I. 6:543,—P. spinulosa. R. Br. (P. Bid- willii. Hoibr.). Allied to P. macrophylla. Tree: lvs. upright, linear, acuminate and spiny-pointed, midrib distinct above, 1 1/2 - 3 in. long. Austral.— p. taxifolia, Kunth = P. montana.—P. Totarra, A.Cunn. (P. Totara, Don). Tree, attaining 90 ft. with spreading branches: allied to P. alpina: lvs. linear, acute or acuminate, 1/2 - 1 1/2 in. long. New Zeal. ALFRED REHDER.
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