Afrocarpus falcatus
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| Afrocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) |
Afrocarpus falcatus, commonly known as the Sickle-leaved Yellowwood (formerly also Outeniqua Yellowwood; syn. Podocarpus falcatus), is a species of Afrocarpus, native to montane forests of South Africa, from Swellendam District of Western Cape Province to Limpopo Province, and into southern Mozambique.
It is a medium-sized to large tree, generally 10-25 m high, but rarely growing up to 60 m, with rough, scaly bark. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate or falcate (sickle-shaped), 2-4 cm long and 2-4 mm broad. The seed cones are highly modified, with a single large seed with a thin fleshy coating borne on a short peduncle. The mature seed is yellow, and is dispersed by birds and monkeys which eat the fleshy coating, a necessary step for growth since the flesh contains a germination inhibitor. The pollen cones are produced in clusters on short stems.
[edit] References
- Conifer Specialist Group (2000). Afrocarpus falcatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 26 November 2006.
- Gymnosperm Database: Afrocarpus falcatus
- English Names of South African Trees
- Arboretum de Villardebelle: Afrocarpus falcatus photographs
