Podocarpus parlatorei

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Podocarpus parlatorei

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order:
Araucariales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Podocarpus
Species:
P. parlatorei
Binomial name
Podocarpus parlatorei
Synonyms
  • Nageia angustifolia Kuntze
  • Podocarpus angustifolius Parl.

Podocarpus parlatorei is a species of tree in the family Podocarpaceae and native to Argentina and Bolivia, where it grows on steep hillsides on the eastern flanks of the Andes. It has been harvested commercially in the past but is now protected under CITES. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its status as being "near threatened".

Description

Podocarpus parlatorei is an evergreen shrub or tree that grows up to 15 (occasionally 30) meters high. The trunk is straight and cylindrical and branches often grow from close to the ground.[4] The leaves are linear to falcate (sickle-shaped), straight, 2.5 to 9 cm (1.0 to 3.5 in) long, 2 to 3 mm (0.08 to 0.12 in) wide, with an acute pungent apex. The seeds are spherical, 5 to 6 mm (0.20 to 0.24 in) long.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Podocarpus parlatorei is endemic to the eastern flanks of the Andes in northwestern Bolivia and Argentina.[1] It occurs at elevations between 950 and 3,000 m (3,100 and 9,800 ft) and occupies a strip of countryside about 1,000 km (600 mi) long in a north/south direction and up to 100 km (60 mi) wide. The population is fragmented into a number of subpopulations by the lowland forests and dry river valleys that dissect the steep-sided foothills.[1]

Ecology

In the south of its range, this species forms pure stands, but further north it tends to grow under a canopy formed by

guans (Penelope spp.), band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata), and the hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga).[6] The gray grass mouse (Abrothrix illuteus) lives on steep hillsides amongst the Podocarpus parlatorei and Alnus acuminata trees.[7]

Uses

The timber is lightweight, soft and easy to work. It has been used commercially for making pencils and for building construction, flooring, furniture making, veneers, posts and utensils.[4] Its international commercial trade has now been banned by its listing in Appendix I of CITES[2] because excessive logging was depleting populations, but it is still harvested for local use.[6] It is also used in field boundaries and around houses as hedges.[4]

Status

In the past, this tree was listed by the

global warming. However research suggests that it is able to shift its range to higher altitudes during warmer periods and will cope with climate change as it has in the past during climatic fluctuations.[6]


References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32019A2808150.en
    . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ "Tropicos | Name - Podocarpus parlatorei Pilg". www.tropicos.org. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Fern, Ken (16 August 2018). "Podocarpus parlatorei". Useful tropical plants. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  5. ISBN 9004177183
    .
  6. ^
    hdl:11336/75345
    .
  7. ISBN 978-0-226-16957-6
    .
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