Podocarpus sprucei

Podocarpus sprucei
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Araucariales
Family:	Podocarpaceae
Genus:	Podocarpus
Species:	P. sprucei
Binomial name
Podocarpus sprucei Parl.

Podocarpus sprucei is a species of conifer in the family Podocarpaceae. It is found largely in Ecuador and Peru.

Description

Tree to 20 m high (smaller at the highest elevations), with reddish brown scaly bark. ^{[2] [3]} Leaves elliptic to linear, dark green, stiff, 2–7 cm long, apex acute, midrib on upper side a continuous shallow groove. ^[2] Male cones in groups of 3–10 on 1.5-2.5 cm long peduncles, each cone up to 1 cm long. ^{[2] [3]} Seed cones axillary, solitary, purple-red when ripe; seed globose, 5–8 mm long. ^[2]

Distribution and habitat

Podocarpus sprucei can be found in cloud forests at 1800–3900 m of elevation in Ecuador and northern Peru. ^{[3] [1]}

References

1. Thomas, P.; Farjon, A. (2013). "Podocarpus sprucei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013 e.T42532A2985572. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42532A2985572.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Buchholz, John T.; Gray, Netta E. (1948). "A taxonomic revision of Podocarpus: IV the American species of section Eupodocarpus, sub-sections C and D". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 29 (2): 123–151. doi: 10.5962/bhl.part.26198 .
3. Farjon, Aljos (2017). A Handbook of the World's Conifers (2 vols.): Revised and Updated Edition. BRILL. p. 929. ISBN   978-90-04-32451-0.