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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Afrocarpus''
| image = Podocarpus gracilior2.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''[[Afrocarpus gracilior]]''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Pinophyta]]
| classis = [[Pinophyta|Pinopsida]]
| ordo = [[Pinales]]
| familia = [[Podocarpaceae]]
| genus = '''''Afrocarpus'''''
| genus_authority = ([[Francis Buchanan-Hamilton|Buch.-Ham.]] & E.Gray) [[Christopher Nigel Page|C.N.Page]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Afrocarpus dawei]]''<br>
''[[Afrocarpus falcatus]]''<br>
''[[Afrocarpus gaussenii]]''<br>
''[[Afrocarpus gracilior]]''<br>
''[[Afrocarpus mannii]]''<br>
''[[Afrocarpus usambarensis]]''
}}

'''''Afrocarpus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[conifer]]s belonging to the podocarp family [[Podocarpaceae]]. Afrocarpus was designated a genus in 1989, when several species formerly classified in ''[[Podocarpus]]'' and ''[[Nageia]]'' were reclassified. Six [[species]] are recognized.

As the name intimates, ''Afrocarpus'' is native to [[Africa]]. The species are distributed through the [[Afromontane]] forests of eastern and southern Africa, descending to the [[Indian Ocean]] coast in [[South Africa]]. ''A. gaussenii'' is native of [[Madagascar]].

The podocarps are associated with the ancient supercontinent of [[Gondwana]], where they were characteristic of the cool, moist southern Gondwana flora. Gondwana broke up into the continents of [[South America]], [[Africa]], [[India]], [[Australia]] and [[Antarctica]] between 160 and 30 million years ago. As Africa drifted north it became hotter and drier, and the podocarps generally retreated to the cool moist highlands of eastern and southern Africa.

In South Africa, this wood is mostly used to make exclusive furniture.

* ''[[Afrocarpus dawei]]'' is native to the highlands of east Africa, including [[Kenya]], [[Tanzania]], [[Uganda]], and [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]].
* ''[[Afrocarpus falcatus]]'', commonly known as the Outeniqua yellowwood, is a tall tree, generally 10-25 m high, but growing up to 60 m. It is native to montane forests of [[South Africa]], from [[Swellendam]] District of [[Western Cape Province]] to [[Limpopo Province]], and into southern [[Mozambique]].
* ''[[Afrocarpus gaussenii]]'', native to the eastern plateau of [[Madagascar]].
* ''[[Afrocarpus gracilior]]'', native to [[Ethiopia]], Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Used in gardens as a tree, hedge, screen, or espalier; generally sold as ''Podocarpus gracilior''.
* ''[[Afrocarpus mannii]]'', native to [[São Tomé Island]] in the [[Gulf of Guinea]].
* ''[[Afrocarpus usambarensis]]'', native to [[Burundi]], [[Rwanda]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]], and [[Lushoto]] and [[Mbulu]] districts of [[Tanzania]].

==References==
Page, C. N. 1989. New and maintained genera in the conifer families Podocarpaceae and Pinaceae. ''Notes of the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh'' 45(2): 377-395.

[[Category:Podocarpaceae]]
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