Podocarpus ledermannii

Pilger 1916 (p. 210)

Common names

In W New Guinea: Sua [Kebar]; bébieai [Kapauko]; in E New Guinea, babako [Aijura, Anona]. In New Britain: neleel [Cape Gloucester]; nelil [Mt. Talawe] (de Laubenfels 1988). No common names are given for Fiji, but given this species' close resemblance to other tree-sized podocarps in Fiji, it likely bears the same common names as those species; see, e.g., Podocarpus affinis, P. decipiens, P. neriifolius.

Taxonomic notes

Type: Papua New Guinea, West Sepik, Sepik River "Lordburg", C.L. Ledermann 9943 (syn K) (Farjon 2010). Syn. Podocarpus idenburgensis N.E. Gray (1958), Podocarpus ledermannii var. expansus de Laub. (2015). See Podocarpus neriifolius for taxonomic notes on the 17 species in the P. neriifolius complex. Most authorities (e.g. de Laubenfels 1980, Eckenwalder 2009, Farjon 2010) have placed P. idenburgensis into synonymy with P. ledermannii, but the species was resurrected by de Laubenfels (2015) and is recognized by POWO. The status of these taxa has not yet been evaluated using molecular methods. The entire basis for distinguishing the two species is that "Podocarpus idenburgensis differs from P. ledermannii in having acute rather than acuminate leaf apices as well as narrower leaves and shorter foliage buds" (de Laubenfels 2015). The distinction in leaf apex is common in Podocarpus; the acuminate form is a "drip tip" and as such is usually seen in samples from the forest understory, while the acute tip is typical in sun foliage. The leaf width difference is given as 10-16 vs. 16-22 mm, which is really a continuum given the normal size variations between sun and shade foliage, and de Laubenfels (2015) does not state the size of foliage buds for either species (although ). Moreover, de Laubenfels (2015) uses this rationale to reassign nearly all collected specimens of P. ledermannii to P. idenburgensis, retaining P. ledermannii as distributed only at high elevations within the mountains of New Guinea. It seems more likely that the narrow leaves he sees are a geoclimatic adaptation to the mountain environments.

Two varieties are recognized by de Laubenfels (2015), the type and Podocarpus ledermannii Pilg. var. expansus de Laub.; the variety is distinguished only in having large, linear leaves, 15.5 to 17 cm long (de Laubenfels 2015). This appears to be well within the range of natural variation for the species.

Description

Dioecious trees to 40 m tall and 60 cm dbh. Bark gray. Crown and twigs not described. Foliage buds ovate, 4-8 × 2.5-4 mm, outer bud scales narrowly triangular, erect or spreading, 2.5-4(-6) mm long, acute to apiculate. Leaves smallest in sun foliage, typically 65-120 × 10-18 mm, apex acute; larger in shade foliage and on saplings, typically 110-220 × 17-24 mm, apex acuminate. Leaves with a 4-10 mm petiole, coriaceous, linear, straight or falcate, upper (adaxial) midrib raised and broadly rounded, lower midrib almost flat. Pollen cones on a 1-4 mm peduncle in groups of 1-3, 35-45 × 3-4 mm, basal bud scales acutely triangular, microsporophylls imbricate. Seed cone axillary on 5-20 mm peduncle, subtended by two 2-mm foliola; receptacle comprised of 3 fused scales, 9-16 mm long, fleshy and red when mature; seed with epimatium 10-13 × 8-10 mm (Gray 1958, de Laubenfels 1988, 2015).

Distribution and Ecology

Fiji; Indonesia: Papua, West Papua; Papua New Guinea; Solomon Islands; at elevations from sea level to 1650 m (de Laubenfels 1988, 2015). Gray (1958) describes it as occurring in high mountain rainforests of New Guinea but the list of collection localities provided by de Laubenfels (2015 [as P. idenburgensis]) suggests an extensive low elevation distribution as well.

The IUCN has assessed this species as "Least Concern" for conservation due to its very large extent of occurrence, at least some of which is in very remote locations where threats are currently minimal (Farjon 2013). However, note that the area of occupancy is largely unknown due to very limited inventory data. Particularly in low-elevation portions of its range the species is subject to exploitation and habitat loss, factors that have likely been locally significant.

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.01.21.

Ethnobotany

No uses are described, but given this species' close resemblance to other tree-sized podocarps within its range, it likely sees the same uses as those species; see, e.g., Podocarpus decipiens and P. neriifolius.

Observations

I know of no specific sites, but a long list of collection locations is given (mostly for P. idenburgensis) by de Laubenfels (2015).

Remarks

The epithet honors Carl Ludwig Ledermann (1875-1958), a Swiss horticulturist who collected plants in West Africa, Papua New Guinea and Micronesia. He collected the type specimen.

Citations

Farjon, A. 2013. Podocarpus ledermannii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T42512A2983897. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42512A2983897.en, accessed 2023.01.21.

Gray, Netta E. 1958. A Taxonomic Revision of Podocarpus, XI. The South Pacific Species of Section Podocarpus, Subsection B. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 39:447. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2023.01.08.

Laubenfels, David J. de. 1980. Blumea 26:140.

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

Gaussen (1976), p. 173.

Wasscher. 1941. Blumea 4:456.