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Podocarpus neriifolius D. Don

Family Name:	Podocarpaceae
Synonyms:	Margbensonia neriifolia, Nageia discolor, Podocarpus polyantha, Podocarpus neglecta, Podocarpus discolor, Nageia neriifolia
Common Name:	Mountain Teak, Brown Pine, Oleander Podocarp, Lowland Podocarp, Jati Bukit, Podo Bukit, Kayu China, Setada, Sentada, 百日青

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Coastal Plant

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Tree

Podocarpus neriifolius, leaves of young plants in polybags

Podocarpus neriifolius, showing male pollen cones (small cylindrical structures, upper right centre)

Podocarpus neriifolius, close-up view of male cones

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Gymnosperms (Non-Flowering Seed Plants) (Conifer)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m), Medium (16m-30m), Small (6m-15m), Shrubby (1m-5m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Rounded
Maximum Height	3 m to 45 m
Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter	0 m to 1 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indochina, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia. Papua New Guinea
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal, Temperate

CITES Protection

True (Appendix III)

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Small to large evergreen coniferous tree. Non-flowering plant, whose naked seeds are not contained within protective confines of a fruit. 'Flowers' are actually unisexual cones, and the species is dioecious -- pollen-producing male cones and seed-bearing female cones are produced on different trees. Oval-shaped seeds sit on seed stalks, which becomes fleshy and reddish upon maturity.Genus name 'Podocarpus' is derived from the Greek words for foot and fruit, a reference to the swollen stalk or receptacle that holds the seed. Species epithet 'nerrifolius' means oleander-leaved.Regarded as valuable softwood timber tree. Inside of bark pleasantly aromatic.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree : There is currently one individual of Podocarpus neriifolius listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. Others: Wood used for construction, and making furniture, musical instruments, carvings, and paper. Timber tradename is Lowland Podocarpus.

Others - Plant Morphology

Small to large evergreen coniferous tree. Non-flowering plant, whose naked seeds are not contained within protective confines of a fruit. 'Flowers' are actually unisexual cones, and the species is dioecious -- pollen-producing male cones and seed-bearing female cones are produced on different trees. Oval-shaped seeds sit on seed stalks, which becomes fleshy and reddish upon maturity.Genus name 'Podocarpus' is derived from the Greek words for foot and fruit, a reference to the swollen stalk or receptacle that holds the seed. Species epithet 'nerrifolius' means oleander-leaved.Regarded as valuable softwood timber tree. Inside of bark pleasantly aromatic.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree : There is currently one individual of Podocarpus neriifolius listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register.
Others: Wood used for construction, and making furniture, musical instruments, carvings, and paper. Timber tradename is Lowland Podocarpus.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Fruits, Fragrant (Bark)
Landscape Uses	Container Planting, General, Suitable for Roadsides, Coastal, Shade Providing Tree / Palm
Thematic Landscaping	Naturalistic Garden

SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Abiotic (Wind)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Ant, Beetle))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Disease / Pest Resistant
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Raised / Sunken Veins, Thick

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate)
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cuneate
Typical Foliar Area	Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Bark Colour(s)	Greyish-brown to black
Mature Bark Texture	Fissured, Peeling / Flaking / Papery, Scaly

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)
Mature Bark Texture Remarks	Bark peels off in longitudinal strips.

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, Green, Red

Ovary Position	Superior / Hypogynous
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Nut / Nutlet

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1783
Species ID	3076
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.