Podocarpus elongatus

Podocarpus elongatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Podocarpus
Species: P. elongatus
Binomial name
Podocarpus elongatus
Aiton L'Herit. ex Pers.

Podocarpus elongatus (Breede River yellowwood) is a species of conifer in the Podocarpaceae family. Unlike the other yellowwoods of Southern Africa, Podocarpus elongatus grows as an enormous, round, multi-stemmed bush.

It can be distinguished from the other yellowwood species of Southern Africa by its relatively elongated, grey-blue leaves (hence its species name "elongatus"), and by its round, bushy shape. It is generally as wide as it is tall. This is the only one of South Africa's Yellowwoods that coppice when the trunk is damaged. As it is a riverine species, this ability to coppice is an adaptation to survive being knocked down by floods.

It is found only in South Africa. Here it is restricted to the Breede River valley in the Western Cape and can be found as far north as the Cedarberg mountains. In this range, it is typically found growing along rivers and on rocky outcrops in fynbos vegetation.

As a garden tree it is sometimes grown as an ornamental feature, with fruits that attract birds. It is more hardy than the other Yellowwoods of South Africa. The Breede River Yellowwood is a protected tree in South Africa.[1]

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See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Protected Trees" (PDF). Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa. Retrieved 13 June 2013.


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