Podocarpus elongatus

Podocarpus elongatus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 2.3)
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]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Podocarpus elongatus.

See also

• List of Southern African indigenous trees

External links

• PlantzAfrica site by SANBI
• Conifer Specialist Group 1998. Podocarpus elongatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
• Biodiversity Explorer
• Images on iSpot

References