Podocarpus spinulosus

Wikipedia links:       Gymnosperms > Cupressales > Podocarpaceae  > Podocarpus  spinulosus

Other links:     

Common name:         Spiny-leaf Podocarp

Conservation status: . . .

Etymology:   

• The name comes from Greek πούς (poús, "foot") + καρπός (karpós, "fruit")

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Cones and seed:                              

• The cones are berry-like, with a fleshy, edible purple-black aril 1–2 cm long 

• One (rarely two) apical seed 1 cm long

Leaves:         

• The leaves are needle-like, 2–8 cm long

• Sharply pointed, green above and with glaucous stomatal bands beneath

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

Habitat:   

• It is generally an understorey shrub, rarely growing more than 2 m tall

Distribution:                  

• Native to the warm-temperate coastal regions of NSWand southern Queensland

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • It was first described by James Edward Smith in 1817 as Taxus spinulosa

  • It was reclassified 'as Podocarpus spinulosus in 1825