The Gymnosperm Database

map

Range of Dacrydium spathoides (de Laubenfels 1988). Adapted from a map by www.expediamaps.com.

 

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Conservation status 2013

Dacrydium spathoides

de Laubenfels 1969

Common names

Taxonomic notes

Description

"Tree 26-34 m tall, 50 cm diam. Bark exuding red sap. Juvenile leaves spreading at about a 60 angle, nearly straight but slightly bent forward at the pungent tip, to at least 6 mm long, linear-lanceolate, c. 1 mm wide, 0.2 mm thick, keeled on the dorsal side, slightly concave on the axial side. Adult leaves spreading at about a 45 angle, straight or slightly bent forward at the apiculate tip, 2-4 mm long, linear-lanceolate, 0.8-0.9 mm wide, 0.2 mm thick, keeled on the dorsal side, distinctly concave on the axial side. Pollen cones unknown. Seed-bearing structure terminal, often on a short side branch, subtended by reduced leaves less than 2 mm long, the cone bracts straight, slightly spreading, up to 3 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, covering the lower part of the seed. Mature seed 4 mm long, often two seeds per cone" (de Laubenfels 1988).

Distribution and Ecology

New Guinea: E West Irian, growing as a canopy tree at 2150-2200 m in moist, mossy mountain rainforest (de Laubenfels 1988). The IUCN reports that the population status is unknown.

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.02.21.

Ethnobotany

No data as of 2023.02.21.

Observations

No data as of 2023.02.21.

Remarks

The epithet refers to the concave shape of the adult leaf, which resembles the spathe of palm leaves.

Citations

Laubenfels, D. J. de. 1969. A revision of the Malesian and Pacific rainforest conifers, I. Podocarpaceae, in part. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 50:299. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2021.12.24.

See also

Gaussen, Gymn. Act. & Foss. fasc. 13, ch. 20 (1974) 44, f. 690.

Last Modified 2023-02-26