The Gymnosperm Database

photo

Herbarium scan of the isotype at L, specimen L.1190783, accessed 2023.01.23.

 

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Conservation status 2023

Podocarpus neolinearis

Idrees & Z.Yong Zhang 2022

Common names

None have been reported, but since the species looks very similar to Podocarpus neriifolius, it likely has the same common names as that species in New Guinea.

Taxonomic notes

Type: Papua New Guinea, Central Papua, Maipa Airstrip, ca. -8.33°, 146.55°, in tall forest at foot of small hillslope, altitude ca. 140 feet [40 m], tree 25 m tall, dbh 35 cm, leaves dark glossy green above, pale green below, 1962.09.18, P. J. Darbyshire 977 (holo K, iso A, BO, BRI, L). Holotype at K, no image; Isotype at L, with scanned herbarium sheet; both accessed 2023.01.23. Syn. Podocarpus linearis de Laub. 2015 nom. inval. (previously applied to a fossil plant).

Most of the specimens cited by de Laubenfels (2015) had previously been attributed to Podocarpus grayae or P. neriifolius. This species has not been evaluated using molecular methods. See P. neriifolius for taxonomic notes on the 17 species in the P. neriifolius complex.

Description

Trees to 36 m tall. Crown, bark, twigs not described. Foliage buds 3-4 × 2.5-3 mm, with erect triangular scales 3-4 mm long. Leaves on 4-6 mm petioles, linear, 120-170 × 11-14 mm; apex lanceolate and acute. Upper (adaxial) midribs "distinctly raised", 0.8 mm wide; lower midribs not described. Pollen cones sessile in groups of 1-3, 26 × 3 mm. Seed cones on 4-6 mm peduncles, subtended by 2 foliola 1 mm long, receptacles 8-9 mm long, fleshy and red when ripe; seed within epimatium 10-12 × 9 mm (de Laubenfels 2015).

De Laubenfels (2015) states the species is distinct from Podocarpus neriifolius due to linear leaves that taper near the apex, and in having narrower midribs.

Distribution and Ecology

Indonesia: Papua Barat; Papua New Guinea: Central Papua, Gulf, Morobe, North Papua (Oro), Sepik; distribution coastal, at elevations to 180 m (de Laubenfels 2015).

The IUCN has not evaluated this species with regard to conservation status. Although the species is widely distributed in mountainous coastal forests, this habitat is extensively disturbed, with many areas being converted to nonforest cover types (de Laubenfels 2015).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.01.23.

Ethnobotany

No recorded uses as of 2023.01.23, but since the species looks very similar to Podocarpus neriifolius, it likely has the same uses as that species where they co-occur.

Observations

See the collection locales referred to by de Laubenfels (2015).

Remarks

The epithet neolinearis derives from the epithet linearis given by de Laubenfels (2015) due to the linear leaves.

Citations

Idrees, Muhammad and Zhang Zhiyong. 2022. Podocarpus neolinearis, a new name for Podocarpus linearis de Laub. (Podocarpaceae). Phytotaxa 530(1):113.

Laubenfels, David J. de. 2015. New sections and species of Podocarpus based on the taxonomic status of P. neriifolius (Podocarpaceae) in tropical Asia. Novon 24(2):133-152. https://doi.org/10.3417/2012091.

See also

Plants of the World online, as "Podocarpus linearis".

Last Modified 2023-02-26