Prumnopitys andina
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| Prumnopitys andina (Poepp. ex Endl.) de Laub. |
Prumnopitys andina (Lleuque) is an evergreen coniferous tree native to south-central Chile and a few areas in adjacent parts of westernmost Argentina.
It grows up to 30 m high, with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. The leaves are linear to sickle-shaped, 15-30 mm long and 2 mm broad. The seed cones are highly modified, reduced to a central stem 2-4 cm long bearing 1-4 scales, each scale maturing berry-like, oval, 10-15 mm long and 10 mm broad, green maturing dark purple, with a soft edible pulp covering the single seed. The seeds are dispersed by birds, which eat the 'berries' and pass the seeds in their droppings. Seeds are very difficult to germinate.
Before the genus Prumnopitys was distinguished, it was treated in the related genus Podocarpus as Podocarpus andinus. It has also been treated by some botanists as Prumnopitys spicata (Molloy & Muñoz-Schick 1999); however this name is illegitimate (Mill & Quinn 2001).
The fruit are tasty, and eaten by Native American people in Chile. The tree is also occasionally grown as an ornamental tree and a hedge in oceanic climate areas in northwest Europe and the Pacific Northwest of North America. In these areas, it is also sometimes known as "Plum-yew" or "Plum-fruited Yew", though these names are more commonly applied to plants in the genus Cephalotaxus (Cephalotaxaceae).
Evidence suggests that very little regeneration is occurring to replace current ageing trees in populations.
[edit] References
- González (1998). Prumnopitys andina. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1cd, C2a v2.3)
[edit] External links
- Prumnopitys andina in Encyclopedia of the Chilean Flora
- Gymnosperm Database: Prumnopitys andina
- Molloy, B. P. J. & Muñoz-Schick, M. 1999. The correct name for the Chilean conifer Lleuque (Podocarpaceae). New Zealand J. Bot. 37: 189–193. Available online (pdf file).
- Mill, R. R. & Quinn, C. J. 2001. Prumnopitys andina reinstated as the correct name for ‘lleuque’, the Chilean conifer recently renamed P. spicata (Podocarpaceae). Taxon 50: 1143 - 1154. Abstract.
- Prumnopitys andina pictures in Chilebosque
