Podocarpus gnidioides () description

Podocarpus gnidioides

Carrière 1867

Common names

Taxonomic notes

Holotype : Mueller 70 (P) (de Laubenfels 1972).

Synonymy:

Podocarpus alpinus var. arborescens Brongniart et Gris. Ann. Sc. Nat. Paris ser. 5, 6 : 242 (1866); Bull. Soc. Bot. France 13: 425 (1866).
Podocarpus alpinus var. caespitosus Brongniart et Gris., l. c.
Podocarpus gnidioides var. caespitosus (Brongniart et Gris.) Carrière, l. c. : 657

Description

"Horizontally, spreading out shrub to 2 m in height. Bark thin, fibrous, brown/reddish to brown/yellowish inside, changing to gray with age. Bud small, terminal, globular 1 mm thick with 1-2 lateral scales 2 mm long. Leaves dense, thick and spreading around the branches, linear 8-22 mm long by 2-2.5 mm wide, a little bit longer on juvenile leaves, apex round and dull. Leaves gradually becoming narrower towards the base almost like a leafstalk, decurrent, strongly undulate leaf margins, midrib grooved on upper surface, slightly raised on lower surface. Pollen cone 8-14 mm long by 2-2.5 mm in diameter, single on a naked peduncle 2-4mm long, surrounded at the base with several thin, rounded scales. Microsporophylls with a sharply pointed apex, barely leaving the pollen sac. Fruit on a short peduncle about 1mm long, receptacle formed from 2 thick bracts 3-7 mm long, with the tip spreading and not thicken, becoming fleshy and bright red at maturity. Seeds oval 6-7 mm long by 3.5 mm in diameter, surface wrinkled, dorsal edge prominent, becoming a clear ridge along the axis" (de Laubenfels 1972).

Distribution and Ecology

New Caledonia: on the southern part of the main island above 600 m elevation on rocky ridges in the mountains (personal observations, Ferenc Kiss # 183 (1993.01.16) on the summit of Mt. Humboldt, 1600 m). Based on data from 12 collection localities, its climate preferences include a mean annual temperature of 18.9°C, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 11.9°C, and a mean annual precipitation of 2006 mm (Biffin et al. 2011, Table S5).

This map shows herbarium records of Podocarpus species native to New Caledonia. Red is P. decumbens, dark green is P. gnidioides, orange is P. longifolioliatus, yellow is P. lucienii, purple is P. novae-caledoniae, green is P. polyspermus, and blue is P. sylvestris. Click on an icon for further information. Distribution data from GBIF (2020.03.30), edited to remove duplicates.

The IUCN reports that, despite the "near threatened" classification for this species, the population is currently stable.

Remarkable Specimens

Ethnobotany

Observations

de Laubenfels (1972) examined collections from the following sites, some of which have likely been eradicated: Mt. Koghis, 900-1070m (8 coll.); Mt. Dore, 600-775m (7 coll.); Mt. Humboldt, 1400-1600 m (6 coll.); Mt. Dzumac, 1000m (2 coll.); Mts. Comboui, 1060m; Mt. des Sources, 1000m; Mt. Nekandi (Thio), 1300m; Ouenghi, 400-800m; and Mt. Mou (no elev. specified).

Remarks

The epithet refers to Gnidia, which this species resembles.

Citations

Thanks to Ferenc Kiss for translating de Laubenfels from the French (2003.02).