Podocarpus drouynianus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Podocarpus drouynianus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Araucariales |
| Family: | Podocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Podocarpus |
| Species: | P. drouynianus |
| Binomial name | |
| 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]
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]
