A tree in habitat. iNaturalist observation 33620543 [Michelle Monge-Velazquez, 2019.09].
Foliage on a tree in habitat. iNaturalist observation 67111192 [Eduardo Chacón-Madrigal, 2020.12].
Underside of foliage on a tree in habitat, showing the white stomatal bands. iNaturalist observation 67111192 [Eduardo Chacón-Madrigal, 2020.12].
Pectinopitys standleyi
Ciprecillo, cobola, lorito (Rojas et al. 1992 in Moreira and Arnáez 2003).
Syn: Podocarpus standleyi J.Buchholz & N.E.Gray 1948, Prumnopitys standleyi (J.Buchholz & N.E.Gray) de Laub. 1978 (POWO, accessed 2023.02.25). Page (2019, p. 148) assigns this species to Pectinopitys rather than Prumnopitys on the basis of evidence observable on herbarium collections; field characters are not discussed and it appears no molecular work has yet been performed.
Trees up to 25 m tall. Branchlets alternate, spreading. Leaves linear, acute or mucronate, 12-25 mm long, 1.5-3.5 mm wide, with 2 bright white stomatal bands on lower surface, grooved above the midvein. Pollen cones numerous (up to 25), spicately arranged on a branch terminal shoot 3.8-7.6 cm long, each cone 10-13 mm long. Seed cones borne on a peduncle 2.5 cm long, with bracts 1.5 mm long subtending a 17 mm long seed (Dallimore et al. 1967, Page 2019).
Costa Rica (Farjon 1998). Grows in late-successional montane rainforest at (1350-)2000-2600(-3200) m elevation, in areas with 2000-4000 mm annual rainfall and temperature range of 3-25°C (Budowski 1954 in Moreira and Arnáez 2003, Farjon 2010). Associated species include Podocarpus oleifolius, Magnolia poasana, Cleyera theaeoides, Ilex spp., Weinmannia spp., and a number of Lauraceae species from Nectandra, Ocotea, Persea, and Phoebe (Gardner 2013). See also Chaverri et al. [no date]. Zone 10 (cold hardiness limit between -1°C and +4.4°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001).
The IUCN classifies this species as "Endangered" due to the small area of occurrence (1,366 km2 based on herbarium data) and the existence of only 3 known populations. There has been an ongoing decline in the number of mature individuals, and there is also a continuing decline in the extent and quality of habitat, particularly outside of protected areas. About half of its range is in 2 protected areas, Parque Nacional Volcán Poás and in La Amistad Biosphere Reserve (Gardner 2013). Outside of those areas, the principal threats are logging (which selectively targets this species for its valuable timber) and habitat conversion to nonforest cover types, chiefly for agriculture, which from 1992 to 2005 (the only documented period) caused a loss of 12.4% of available habitat, or nearly a quarter of the habitat available outside of reserves.
No data as of 2023.02.26.
The wood is relatively heavy (specific gravity of 0.555), dries quickly without defects, and has a fine, uniform texture (Carpio 1992, Standley 1938, both in Moreira and Arnáez 2003). These traits have suited it to use in construction, flooring, indoor decoration, veneer, farming tools, fenceposts, firewood, furniture, and as pulp for paper and cardboard (Budowski 1954, Carpio 1992, Rojas and others 1992, all in Moreira and Arnáez 2003). The species is not in cultivation, though it may be found in some botanic gardens (Farjon 2010).
It occurs at Parque Nacional Volcán Poás and La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. To find out precisely where would require exploring the collection records at GBIF (accessed 2023.02.26).
The species is "Named in honor of Paul C. Standley, Curator of the Herbarium, Chicago Natural History Museum, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to our knowledge of the flora of Costa Rica" (Buchholz and Gray 1948). He is also remembered in 2 other gymnosperms, Juniperus standleyi and Zamia standleyi.
The seeds ripen in 5 months and are ready for harvest in April. To germinate, first soak in water at 22°C for 24 hours. Germination is epigeal. The seedlings' roots bear numerous nodules (Moreira and Arnáez 2003).
Buchholz, J. T. and N. E. Gray. 1948. A Taxonomic Revision of Podocarpus, II. The American Species of Podocarpus: Section Stachycarpus. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 29: 64-76 (p. 72). Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2023.02.26.
Budowski, G. 1954. La identificación en el campo de árboles forestales más importantes de la América Central. Turrialba, Costa Rica: Centro Agronómico Tropical par la Investigación y la Enseñanza. 326 p. tesis Magister Agr.
Carpio, I. 1992. Maderas de Costa Rica, 150 especies forestales. San Jose, Costa Rica: Editorial Universidad de Costa Rica. 338 p.
Chaverri, A., B. Herrera and O. Herrera-MacBryde. [no date]. CPD: Middle America, Site MA17, La Amistad Biosphere Reserve, Costa Rica, Panama. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/ma/ma17.htm, accessed 2006.12.15, now defunct.
Gardner, M. 2013. Prumnopitys standleyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T38324A2868584. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T38324A2868584.en, accessed 2023.02.26.
Moreira, I. and E. Arnáez. 2003. Prumnopitys standleyi (Buchholz & Gray) de Laub. P. 660-661 in Tropical Tree Seed Manual. http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm, accessed 2006.12.15, now defunct.
Page, Christopher N. 2019. New and Maintained Genera in the Taxonomic Alliance of Prumnopitys s.l. (Podocarpaceae), and Circumscription of a New Genus: Pectinopitys. New Zealand Journal of Botany 57(3):137–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2019.1625933.
Rojas, F., G. Torres, E. Arnáez, and I. Moreira. 1992. Ciprecillo. Especies Forestales Tropicales. Subserie de Cuadernos Cientéficos y Tecnológicos No. 9. Cartago, Costa Rica: Editorial Tecnológica de Costa Ricas. 4 p.
Standley, Paul C. 1938. Flora de Costa Rica. Field Museum of Natural History Botanical Series 18(3):781-1133. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2023.02.26.
The species account at Threatened Conifers of the World.
Last Modified 2023-02-26
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