Podocarpus drouynianus

Podocarpus drouynianus is a species of podocarp native to the relatively high rainfall southwestern corner of Western Australia, where it is known by the name emu berry,[2] wild plum[3] or native plum although it is not a true plum. The Noongar name for the plant is koolah.[4]

Podocarpus drouynianus

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Podocarpus
Species:
P. drouynianus
Binomial name
Podocarpus drouynianus

Description

The plant is usually a shrub, not often forming a single trunk, instead growing multiple branches from around the base. It looks like a conifer, typically grows to a height of 0.75 to 3 metres (2 to 10 ft)[3] and forms clumps a few metres wide.[2] It is dioecious[3] and very slow-growing. The bark is thin and fibrous, green in colour turning red-brown on the outside. The leaves are needle-like, 4 to 8 centimetres (1.6 to 3.1 in) long, sharply pointed, green above and with glaucous stomatal bands beneath. The cones are berry-like, with a fleshy, edible purple aril 2 to 2.5 cm (0.79 to 0.98 in) long and one (rarely two) apical seeds 1 cm (0.39 in)1 cm long.

Distribution

It grows on lower slopes and low-lying areas and around creeks in the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia where it grows in loamy, sandy or gravelly soils.[3] It is associated as part of the understorey species present in lowland jarrah and karri and it spreads mostly by root suckering.[2] The extent of occurrence of the species is less than 20,000 square kilometres (7,722 sq mi) over multiple locations. The total area of occupancy by P. drouynianus has reduced as a result of clearing of forest for pasture and the replacement of native forest with exotics.[1]

Cultivation

Ideally Podocarpus drouynianus should be grown in partial shade with plenty of water. Unusually for the genus, it tolerates quite dry conditions. It survives temperatures of up to 45 °C, and grows well in full sun or partial shade.

The plant grows as a rounded form in cultivation, slowly attaining two metres in height and 1.5 metres in width. Propagation from cuttings in the usual method of planting. The presentation of its red and fleshy fruit is unreliable, but the plant is favoured for its appealing foliage. The long and leafy stems are harvested for use in the florist industry. The plum-like fruit is edible, although lacking any distinctive taste,[5] and noted as an important food of the first peoples of Southwest Australia.[6]

Classification

The species was initially described by the botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1864 in his work Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. There are two synonyms for this species: Nageia drouyniana and Podocarpus drouyniana.[7] The species name honors the statesman Edouard Drouyn de Lhuys who was a member of the Institut de France.[2]

gollark: > the current website is almost exclusively done by my boss who doesn't have any professional qualificationsoh <:bees:724389994663247974>
gollark: I'm sure not *everyone* there is Mr W[REDACTED].
gollark: Do you have "makerspaces" locally, perhaps?
gollark: No, not that.
gollark: I'm sure there's some vaguely localized in-person activity which is fairly likely to have interesting people doing it.

References
  • Conifer Specialist Group (2008). "Podocarpus drouynianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2009.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as data deficient
  1. Thomas, P. & Farjon, A. (2013). "Podocarpus drouynianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T34066A2842380. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T34066A2842380.en.
  2. "Podocarpus drouynianus F. Muell. 1864". The Gymnosperm Database. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  3. "Podocarpus drouynianus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  4. "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  5. Wrigley, J.W.; Fagg, M.A. (2003). Australian native plants : cultivation, use in landscaping and propagation (5th ed.). Sydney: Reed New Holland. p. 446. ISBN 1876334908.
  6. Turney, Chris S. M.; Bird, Michael I.; Fifield, L. Keith; Roberts, Richard G.; Smith, Mike; Dortch, Charles E.; Grün, Rainer; Lawson, Ewan; Ayliffe, Linda K.; Miller, Gifford H.; Dortch, Joe; Cresswell, Richard G. (20 January 2017). "Early Human Occupation at Devil's Lair, Southwestern Australia 50,000 Years Ago". Quaternary Research. 55 (01): 3–13. doi:10.1006/qres.2000.2195.
  7. "Podocarpus drouynianus F.Muell". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
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