Podocarpus macrophyllus

Podocarpus macrophyllus is a conifer in the genus Podocarpus, family Podocarpaceae. It is the northernmost species of the genus, native to southern Japan and southern and eastern China. Common names in English include yew plum pine,[2] Buddhist pine, and fern pine. Kusamaki (クサマキ) and inumaki (犬槇) are Japanese names for this tree. In China, it is known as 羅漢松 or luóhàn sōng, which literally means "arhat pine".

P. macrophyllus seed cones with two seeds

Podocarpus macrophyllus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Podocarpus
Species:
P. macrophyllus
Binomial name
Podocarpus macrophyllus
(Thunb.) Sweet

It is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, reaching 20 m tall.[3] The leaves are strap-shaped, 6–12 cm long, and about 1 cm broad, with a central midrib. The cones are borne on a short stem, and have two to four scales, usually only one (sometimes two) fertile, each fertile scale bearing a single apical seed 10–15 mm. When mature, the scales swell up and become reddish purple, fleshy, and berry-like, 10–20 mm long; they are then eaten by birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings.

P. macrophyllus occurs in forests, open thickets, and roadsides from near sea level to 1000 m above it.[3]

Symbolism, cultivation and uses

Kusamaki is the state tree of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is a popular large shrub or small tree in gardens, particularly in Japan and the Southeastern United States. The ripe cone arils are edible, though the seed should not be eaten. Because of its resistance to termites and water, inumaki is used for quality wooden houses in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Buddhist pine is highly regarded as a feng shui tree in Hong Kong, giving it a very high market value. In recent years, the illegal digging of Buddhist pine has become a problem in the city.[4]

This species can be trained as a bonsai.[5]

References
  1. Conifer Specialist Group (1998). "Podocarpus macrophyllus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998. Retrieved 15 May 2012.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. "Podocarpus macrophyllus". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  3. eFloras. "Podocarpus macrophyllus". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  4. "Buddhist pine tree bandit jailed". www.news.gov.hk. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  5. "Podocarpus Macrophyllus - Bonsai Empire". www.bonsaiempire.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016.

Media related to Podocarpus macrophyllus at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Podocarpus macrophyllus at Wikispecies

  • From Flora Japonica by Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini.
  • A closeup of the leaves.
  • Foliage with mature seed cones.
  • A trimmed P. macrophyllus.
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