Podocarpus decipiens
Asimbolo (throughout Viti Levu), ngali (Mt. Evans region of Viti Levu), mbau (Vanua Levu) (Gray 1955).
Type: Fiji, Mba, Mount Ndelaiyoo, W of Nandarivatu, 1947, A.C. Smith 5075 (holo ILL, iso A). Syn. Podocarpus neriifolius D.Don var. decipiens (N.E.Gray) Silba 2000 (de Laubenfels 2015).
See Podocarpus neriifolius for taxonomic notes on the 17 species in the P. neriifolius complex.
Dioecious tree to 20 m tall, rarely bushy. Bark pale. Foliage bud scales ovate, erect, the outer scales to 8 mm long, inner scales shorter. Leaves on mature trees coriaceous, glossy on both sides, linear-lanceolate, 63-130 × 7-16 mm, petiole 6-12 mm, apex acute, upper midrib broad. Pollen cones axillary, subsessile. Seed cone axillary, on a 5-15 mm peduncle, brown when ripe. Seeds often in pairs, subglobose, 10 × 5 mm, sometimes crested (Gray 1955, de Laubenfels 2015).
Gray (1955) found the species distinct from P. neriifolius in the long outer terminal bud scales with attenuate, often foliaceous tips; and leaves with a broad, only slightly prominent midrib (in contrast to the abruptly prominent midrib in Podocarpus neriifolius). She also details some distinctive characters of leaf anatomy, and in particular, this differs from all other Fijian podocarps (including P. neriifolius) in having two or more resin canals above the vascular bundle.
Fiji: Viti Levu; Gray (1955) also places it on Vanua Levu, but de Laubenfels (2015) does not. Found at elevations above 700 m, typically on volcanic soils in dense forests on mountain slopes and summits, commonly with Degeneria vitiensis. However, it has also been found growing on limestone near a tidal swamp (Gray 1955).
The IUCN has not yet assessed this species. However, the higher elevations on Viti Levu are home to three other endemic conifers, Acmopyle sahniana, Dacrydium nausoriense, and Podocarpus affinis. These have conservation status ranging from "Near Threatened" to "Critically Endangered" and in each case habitat loss is a significant factor of decline, thus, P. decipiens would likely be assessed as at least "Near Threatened", or perhaps more vulnerable.
No data as of 2023.01.19.
At the time of her investigations, Gray (1955) noted that this species was harvested for timber. I have not found more recent information.
The species has not been used in dendrochronology, but see remarks for Podocarpus neriifolius.
I have seen no specific references, but de Laubenfels (2015) and Gray (1955) both provide a list of specimens examined, some listed in sufficient detail to allow visiting the collection site.
The epithet decipiens is Latin, meaning "deceive". Gray (1955) hints at why she chose this epithet: "Podocarpus decipiens, in the Fiji Islands, was found only after the examination of a large number of specimens determined by others to be either P. neriifolius or P. elatus."
Gray, Netta E. 1955. A Taxonomic Revision of Podocarpus IX. The South Pacific Species of Section Eupodocarpus, Subsection F. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 36:204.
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.
Last Modified 2023-02-26
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