Podocarpus
(from pous, podos, a foot, and karpos, a fruit; the fruits are footstalked). Including Nageia. ORD. Coniferae. Of this genus, upwards of sixty species have been enumerated; but, according to the authors of the "Genera Plantarum," less than forty are entitled to specific rank. They are stove, greenhouse, or half-hardy, evergreen trees, rarely shrubs, frequently found in Southern extra-tropical regions, and in tropical mountainous and Eastern Asia; a few inhabiting the mountainous parts of tropical America. The species are absent in Europe, Western Asia, North Africa, and North America. Flowers monoecious or dioecious, axillary or sub-terminal; males solitary, or two to five in a whorl, or many at the sides of a loose, elongated, spicate rachis; females solitary or rarely twin. Fruit drupaceous or nut-like, rarely exceeding 1/2in. in diameter, often shortly stipitate above the receptacle. Leaves variable. The species thrive in any well-drained, friable loam, and are readily propagated by means of cuttings of the nearly ripened young shoots, inserted in sandy soil, under a bell glass, in a close house or frame, and shaded, during bright sunshine, until rooted. The under-mentioned are the species best known to cultivation. Except where otherwise stated, they are trees, and require greenhouse treatment.
P. andina (Andes).* Plum Fir. fr. resembling in form and size the berry of an ordinary White Grape, but in structure that of a Cherry, the kernel being contained in a hard stone, or nut, surrounded by a soft, fleshy pulp, inclosed in a tough rind; when ripe, the fruit has an agreeable flavour. l. linear, flattened, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, sub-distichous, deep green above, and slightly glaucous beneath. h. 40ft. to 50ft. Valdivia, Chili, 1860. Hardy. The trunk is well furnished with branches, the lower ones drooping, often sweeping the ground. SYN. Prumnopitys elegans.
P. Bidwilli (Bidwill's). A synonym of P. Totara.
P. chinensis (Chinese). Chinese Yew-tree. fl., males numerous, axillary; females on lateral footstalks. fr. cylindrical-oblong, globular when old. l. linear-lanceolate, reflexed on the margins, closely placed, alternate, somewhat two-rowed, 1 3/4in. to 3in. long, two to three lines wide, the elongated rib terminating in an obtuse point. Branches erect, spreading, alternate or opposite, sometimes somewhat vertical. h. 20ft. China and Japan, 1838. A large bush or small tree. SYNS. P. Maki, Taxus Makoya. P. coriacea (leathery). fr. globose, solitary, axillary, very small. l. elliptic-lanceolate, rather thick, leathery, shining, sessile or tapering at the base into a very long footstalk, almost obtusely pointed at apex, 2in. to 3in. long, nearly 1/2in. broad, with an elevated midrib. Branches spreading, horizontal, alternate or opposite, naked on the greater part of the larger ones. h. 40ft. to 50ft. Jamaiea, &c.
P. coriacea (leathery), of gardens. A synonym of Cephalotaxus drupacea. P. dacrydioides (Dacrydium-like). l. of two forms--of young trees, and on twigs of old, distichous, 1/6in. long; those on old branches imbricated. Diameter of trunk 4ft. h. 150ft. New Zealand.
P. elongata (elongated). South African Yellow-wood. fr., seeds about the size of a gooseberry, marbled on the outside. l. linear or oblong-lanceolate, straight, rarely falcate, attenuated, stiff, rather thick, 1 1/4in. to 1 3/4in. long, two lines broad, dark green or glaucous-blue, sessile or regularly tapering to a short footstalk. Branches opposite or in whorls; upper ones ascending, lower ones sometimes deflected. h. 30ft. to 70ft. Cape of Good Hope.
P. Endlicheriana (Endlicher's). l. alternate, closely arranged on the branches, somewhat two-rowed, straight or slightly falcate, undulated; those on the branchlets almost oval or elliptic, with several leaves in a whorl, 4in. to 7in. long, six to eight lines broad. Branches mostly in whorls of three, rarely scattered, ascending, and little divided. India (?). A tall tree.
P. ensifolia (sword-leaved). l. thinly scattered along the branchlets, spreading, leathery, straight or somewhat falcate, elongate-lanceolate, blunt at the point, tapering and somewhat twisted at the base, 3/4in. to 1in. long, 1/2in. broad. Tasmania, &c. A small tree.
P. ferruginea (rust-coloured). fr. red-purple, 3/4in. long, glaucous. l. distichous, linear-acute, falcate, one-nerved, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, red-brown when dry. Trunk 3ft. in diameter. h. 50ft. to 80ft. New Zealand. The wood of this species is brittle and durable, close-grained and reddish. P. japonica (Japanese). l. alternate, flat, linear-lanceolate, elongated, obtuse-pointed, thick, leathery 4in. to 8in. long, about 1/2in. wide, with an elevated rib, almost acute on the upper surface, tapering into a long, slender point at the apex, and into a short, stout footstalk at the base. Japan. A small, hardy tree.
P. koraiana (Corean). A synonym of Cephalotaxus pedunculata fastigiata. P. macrophylla (large-leaved). A synonym of P. neriifolia. P. Maki (Maki, native name). A synonym of P. chinensis. P. Nageia (Nageia). fr. blackish-purple, solitary, rarely twin, orbicular, about the size of a cherry. l. in opposite pairs, but frequently alternate, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, attenuated at base, and acuminated at the point, 3in. long, rather above 1in. broad. Branches spreading, alternate or opposite, slender, frequently pendent, with leaves in double pairs or threes. h. 30ft. to 60ft. China and Japan. A handsome, hardy species, of which there is a variegated form in cultivation. (S. Z. F. J. 135.) SYN. Nageia japonica. P. neriilolia (Oleander-leaved).* fl., male catkins long, axillary and solitary; females on one-flowered peduncles. l. alternate, but mostly closely placed, erect or spreading, lanceolate, acute-pointed, often reflected below, 3in. to 6in. long, 1/4in. to 3/4in. broad. Branches slender, verticillate. Nepaul, &c. A large tree. In Nepaul, the peduncles of the fruit (not the fruit itself) are eaten. (B. M. 4655; F. d. S. 768.) SYN. P. macrophylla. P. nubigena (cloud-born). fr. oblong, axillary, short-stalked, edible. l. linear-lanceolate, straight or somewhat falcate, rigid, attenuated at base, with a short, stout footstalk, 3/4in. to 1 3/4in. long, 1/8in. broad. Chili, &c. A large tree.
P. Purdieana (Purdie's). Yacca-wood-tree. l. elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, thick, leathery, very smooth, shining above, flat, straight, rarely falcate, slightly recurved at the margins, 3in. to 5in. long, 3/4in. to 1in. broad, regularly tapering into a short, stout footstalk. Branches spreading, horizontal, marked by the scars of fallen leaves. h. 100ft. or more. Jamaica. P. spinulosa (slightly spiny). Illawarra Pine. l. alternate or opposite, or in whorls, linear-falcate, spreading in all directions, pungent, smooth, and thick, 1in. to 1 3/4in. long, one line broad. Branches slender, spreading. Australia. A much-branched, erect shrub.
P. Totara (Totara). Mahogany or Totara Pine. fr. solitary or twin, on a swollen peduncle, as large as a cherry. l. distichous or not so, very coriaceous, erect, spreading or recurved, straight or falcate, 1/2in. to 1 1/2in. long, linear, acuminate, pungent. h. 60ft. A spreading tree; the wood is red, close-grained, and very durable. SYN. P. Bidwilli. P. vitiensis (vitian).* fl., male catkins terminal, cylindrical, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long. fr. obovate, obtuse, scarcely 1in. long. l. 1in. long, 1/4in. broad, ovate-lanceolate, acute. h. 60ft. Viti Levu. A handsome tree, with light, glossy green foliage, thickly set in a distichous manner on the symmetrically-arranged branches. (G. C. n. s., xxv. 465.)