Podocarpus perrieri
None are known.
De Laubenfels (1985) and Eckenwalder (2009) synonymized this species under Podocarpus rostratus L.Laurent, but Farjon (2010) restored P. perrieri to species rank, citing Gaussen's (1976) discussion of leaf anatomical characters, and later authorities have followed suit. To date, the question has not been investigated using molecular taxonomy.
There are, in this treatment, 5 species and 2 varieties of Podocarpus on Madagascar, all endemic. They all belong to subgenus Podocarpus, section Scytopodium (de Laubenfels 1985). The only molecular taxonomic work to consider this group is the Podocarpaceae-wide molecular and morphological study by Knopf et al. (2012), which considered 2 of the 7 taxa (P. capuronii and P. madagascariensis var. madagascariensis) and assigned them to a clade shared with all of the African species. Leaf cuticle micromorphology has also proven to be a useful source of taxonomic characters in Podocarpus, and the analysis by Stockey et al. (1998), considering all Madagascar taxa of Podocarpus, found them very similar. P. perrieri and P. rostratus were found to be particularly similar, as they are in macromorphological characters as well. They are currently recognized as separate species, due largely to their disjunct distributions, but both are still known from very few collections, and the morphological data support a sister relationship between the two taxa.
Trees to 30 m tall and 80 cm dbh with spreading and ascending branches that in old trees form an umbrella-shaped crown. Bark thin, light brown, with age becoming scaly and weathering gray. Twigs ascending, slender, round. Foliage buds with imbricate, obtuse outer scales and acute or apiculate inner scales with free but incurved apices. Leaves not particularly dimorphic, crowded near twig ends, stiff, linear, straight or slightly curved, 7-20 × 1-2 mm, oval in cross-section, midrib absent or a shallow upper groove and obtuse lower keel; apex pungent. Pollen cones axillary in 1's-3's on 3-4 mm peduncles, with a few triangular basal scales, 8-15 × 3 mm. Seed cones axillary, solitary on short peduncles, receptacles subtended by two minute bracts, mature receptacle 2-3 mm long. Seed within epimatium 8 × 5 mm with a minute crest (Farjon 2010).
The very narrow leaves, 1-2 mm wide, distinguish P. perrieri and P. rostratus from all other Madagascar podocarps. Between the two species, P. perrieri has obtuse or acute foliage bud scales, leaves 7-20 mm long, and small seeds (8 × 5 mm). P. rostratus has apiculate foliage bud scales, leaves 15-30 mm long, and large seeds ca. 14 × 8 mm (Farjon 2010).
Madagascar. Farjon (2010) reports that it is only known from Fiantarosa Province, Andringitra Massif; and Antanarivo Province, Toamasina, the Foret d'Andasibé. However, the map below also shows a 2017 collection in the far north, Antsiranana Province; this newest collection appears not to have been verified. Regardless, all three locations are highly disjunct, indicating that currently very little is known of the species' distribution. The three collections have been at elevations of 280-2000 m, and they type specimen was recorded as 30 m tall, a canopy dominant tree (Farjon 2010).
Distribution data for all species native to Madagascar, based on identified specimens listed by GBIF (2023). Each point includes a link to more data. There are only 3 collections of Podocarpus perrieri, shown in gray.
The IUCN has assessed this species as "Critically Endangered", and possibly extinct. This seems like an optimistic assessment. No specimens have been seen since 1951 (this does not include the 2017 collection cited above, which has not been verified, and no scan available for evaluation). Most of its historic range has been lost due to habitat modification and there are no known living plants. This assessment relies heavily on data reviewed in 2006 (Farjon 2013, 2019) and my literature review has not found any subsequent news of the species. Shaw and Hird (2014) identify P. perrieri as one of only 7 critically endangered conifers having no ex situ conservation collections; nor have I found it listed among the inventory of any arboretum or botanical garden. If any trees do survive, they are at high risk of habitat loss and logging.
No data as of 2023.01.23.
No uses are reported, but given the size of reported trees, it is likely subject to incidental removal by logging, and use for construction and firewood (Farjon 2010).
See the map shown above.
The epithet honors Henri Perrier de la Bathie, who collected the type specimen.
Farjon, Aljos. 2019. Podocarpus perrieri, from Threatened Conifers of the World, accessed 2023.02.06.
Gaussen, H. and P. Woltz. 1975. Anatomie foliaire de quelques Podocarpus malgaches de haute montagne. Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Toulouse 111: 319. Available: Gallica, accessed 2023.02.05.
Shaw, K. and A. Hird A. 2014. Global Survey of Ex situ Conifer Collections. BGCI. Richmond. UK. ISBN-10: 1-905164-48-3. Available from globaltrees.org, accessed 2023.02.06.
Stockey, Ruth A., Brenda J. Frevel, and Philippe Woltz. 1998. Cuticle micromorphology of Podocarpus, subgenus Podocarpus, section Scytopodium (Podocarpaceae) of Madagascar and South Africa. International Journal of Plant Sciences 159(6):923-940.
Last Modified 2023-02-26
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