Podocarpus confertus

de Laubenfels 1985

Common names

Taxonomic notes

Type: Malaysia, Sabah, Tawau District, Gunung Silam, 1979, D.J. de Laubenfels P691 (holo L) (de Laubenfels 2015). Syn. Podocarpus neriifolius D.Don var. penibukanensis Silba 2000. See Podocarpus neriifolius for taxonomic notes on the 17 species in the P. neriifolius complex.

Description

Tree to 36 m tall. Foliage buds 6-10 mm long. Juvenile leaves up to 20 × 1.2 cm. Adult leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 50-120 × 7-11 mm, acute, narrowing at the base to a 3-6 mm petiole; upper midrib 1 mm wide and 0.2-0.3 mm high, collapsing when dry to form a narrow irregular ridge or becoming completely flat. Pollen cones 30-45 mm long, sessile, solitary or occasionally in pairs; apex of microsporophyll triangular, 0.3-0.5 mm long. Seed cone on a 5-1 3mm peduncle; foliola 5-6 mm long; receptacle 8-12 mm, formed of two unequal bracts. Seed with its covering 10-11 × 6-6.5 mm (de Laubenfels 1988).

Distribution and Ecology

Malaysia: Borneo (Sabah: Mt Silam). Subdominant in somewhat open and sometimes stunted forest from 90 to 1200 m elevation. Found in dense local populations on various poor soils, some or most of which are ultrabasic (de Laubenfels 1988).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.01.19.

Ethnobotany

Observations

I have seen no specific references, but de Laubenfels (2015) provides a list of specimens examined, some listed in sufficient detail to allow visiting the collection site.

Remarks

The epithet is Latin for "pressed close together", referring to the dried adult leaves.

Citations

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

The species account at Threatened Conifers of the World.