Podocarpus lawrencei

Hooker 1845

Common names

Alpine plum pine, mountain plum pine (Harden 1990).

Taxonomic notes

Syn: P. alpinus R. Br. ex Mirbel (Harden 1990). Basionym for Podocarpus alpinus var. lawrencei (J.D.Hook.) J.D.Hook.

Description

"Much-branched decumbent or erect shrub 50-100 cm high, rarely a small tree in sheltered positions. Leaves crowded, obscurely 2-ranked, linear to oblong or narrow-obovate, mostly 5-15 mm long, 2-4 mm wide. Male cones axillary, cylindrical, 5-10 mm long, solitary or in groups. Female cones axillary. Receptacle of 2 fused fleshy scales, 3-5 mm long, expanding to 6 mm long at maturity and turning bright red, fleshy; seed ovoid, 3-5 mm long, green" (Harden 1990).

Distribution and Ecology

Australia: Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales, at elevations of 1000-1800 m (ANBG [no date]). You can create a highly detailed map, and access specimen data, using the "search" function at the Australia Virtual Herbarium.

Based on data from 79 collection localities, its climate preferences include a mean annual temperature of 7.8°C, with an average minimum in the coldest month of -2.1°C, and a mean annual precipitation of 1438 mm (Biffin et al. 2011, Table S5); this and Podocarpus nivalis appear to be the most cold-adapted species in the family. Hardy to Zone 7 (cold hardiness limit between -17.7°C and -12.2°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001). Typically grows in subalpine to alpine areas (ANBG [no date]).

Big tree

Oldest

Ages up to 460 years are cited without supporting evidence (ANBG [no date]).

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

"The species name lawrencei commemorates Robert William Lawrence (1807-1833), a botanical collector" (ANBG [no date]).

Citations

ANU Forestry. 1999. http://online.anu.edu.au/Forestry/teaching/t6/podocarp/podocarp.html, accessed 1999.10.07, now defunct.

See also

Gray (1956), p.168 under P. alpinus J.D. Hook.

de Laubenfels (1985), p.256.

Gymnosperms of New Zealand.

Salmon (1996).

Thompson, J. 1961. Contr. New South Wales Natl Herb. Fl. Ser. 1-18:42-44 (43).