Podocarpus lucienii

de Laubenfels 1960

Common names

Taxonomic notes

The molecular analysis by Knopf et al. (2011), discussed in the "Taxonomic notes" for Podocarpus, places the New Caledonia species (not all of which were evaluated) into a single clade, with P. lucienii sister to P. sylvestris.

Description

Trees to 15 m tall and 30 cm dbh, with a broad, spreading crown. Bark fibrous, fissured longitudinally and exfoliating in long strips, yellow-brown weathering to gray; inner bark red-brown. Twigs round, finely grooved or ridged, terminating in small, globose or ovoid buds with 1-2 mm long, appressed obtuse scales. Leaves on juvenile plants sometimes larger than on mature plants, to 18 cm long and 20 mm wide. Leaves on mature plants 4.5-14 cm × 11-18 mm, widest at midpoint, coriaceous, ± linear, straight or slightly curved, tapering abruptly to a petiolate base, apex obtuse or rounded. Midrib raised or fading to a groove on adaxial (upper) side, flat on abaxial side. Leaves lustrous grey-green above, dull light green below. Stomata in two bands forming numerous intermittent lines on abaxial side. Pollen cones from clustered buds in axils of leaves or below these, sessile, in groups of 1-3, with small, rounded, imbricate bud scales, cylindrical, 10-20 × 3 mm, yellow turning brown; microsporophylls imbricate, peltate, minutely apiculate, bearing two basal, globose pollen sacs. Seed cones axillary and solitary on slender, 12-20 mm long peduncles; receptacles subtended by two small bracts, growing to 9-11 mm long, swelling to 5-6 mm thick, maturing to red or red-brown. Seeds including the epimatium 13-15 x 9-10 mm, obliquely ovoid without a crest, smooth, olive green turning brown. Seed ovoid, smooth, ca. 10 x 7 mm (Farjon 2010).

This species closely resembles P. sylvestris, but with blunt bud scale tips, and mostly individual (rather than clustered) pendent pollen cones. The bark lacks the reddish-brown color of P. sylvestris (de Laubenfels 1960). The leaves are wider and terminate more abruptly at both ends, even on juvenile plants; the seeds are also larger, and the receptacles are on longer peduncles (Farjon 2010).

Distribution and Ecology

New Caledonia, growing as an occasional small tree in moist forest at elevations of 250-1350 m in more or less open situations on ridges and rocky slopes. Restricted to ultramafic substrates in the south, it grows on mica schist at two localities in the north, on the eastern slopes of Mont Panie and on the western slope of the Roches d'Ouaieme (Farjon 2010).

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.

Based on data from 15 collection localities, it grows at elevations of 410 ±220 m. Within its range, mean annual temperature is 21.0°C, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 14.2°C, and a mean annual precipitation of 2020 mm (Biffin et al. 2011, Table S5). Found in open to dense forest at elevations of 150 to 350 m (de Laubenfels 1960).

The IUCN reports that the population status is stable.

Remarkable Specimens

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

The epithet honors Rene Lucien, a New Caledonian botanist.

Citations

Laubenfels, D. J. de. 1960. Podocarpus lucienii, a new species from New Caledonia. Brittonia 12:79-80.

See also

Association Endemia, a site devoted to New Caledonian species. Has excellent photos, a range map, and other information. In French.