Podocarpus elongatus (Cultivated)

Podocarpus elongatus (Aiton) L’Hér. ex Pers., Syn. Pl. 2: 580 1807. (Syn: Nageia elongata (Aiton) F.Muell.; Podocarpus linearis Van Houtte ex Gordon [Invalid]; Podocarpus pruinosus Eckl. & Zeyh. ex T.Durand & Schinz; Podocarpus thunbergii var. angustifolius Sim; Taxus capensis Lam.; Taxus elongata Aiton);

S. Trop. Africa, Cape Prov. as per WCSP;

South Africa: Eastern, Northern and Western Cape Provinces; Malawi; Zambia;
Zimbabwe as per Catalogue of Life;

Podocarpus elongatus (Breede River Yellowwood) is a species of conifer in the Podocarpaceae family. Unlike the other Yellowwoods of Southern Africa, Podocarpus elongatus grows as an enormous, round, multi-stemmed bush.

It can be distinguished from the other Yellowwood species of Southern Africa by its relatively elongated, grey-blue leaves (hence its species name “elongatus”), and by its round, bushy shape. It is generally as wide as it is tall. This is the only one of South Africa’s Yellowwoods that coppice when the trunk is damaged. As it is a riverine species, this ability to coppice is an adaptation to survive being knocked down by floods.

It is found only in South Africa. As a garden tree it is sometimes grown as an ornamental feature, with fruits that attract birds. It is more hardy than the other Yellowwoods of South Africa. The Breede River Yellowwood is a protected tree in South Africa.^[1]

(From Wikipedia on 10.12.13)

Podocarpus elongatus ‘Monmal’