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Afrocarpus gracilior (Introduced)

Afrocarpus gracilior (Pilg.) C.N.Page, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 45: 383 1988 publ. 1989. (Syn: Afrocarpus falcatus subsp. gracilior (Pilg.) Silba; Decussocarpus gracilior (Pilg.) de Laub.; Nageia falcata var. gracilior (Pilg.) Silba; Podocarpus gracilior Pilg.);
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Ethiopia to E. Trop. Africa as per WCSP;
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Ethiopia, Kenya, S Sudan (Equatoria), Tanzania, Uganda, E Congo Republic (Kiva), Rwanda, Burundi as per Catalogue of Life;
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Common name: Fern Pine
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Afrocarpus gracilior (Musengera or Zigba (Amharic ዝግባ); syn. Podocarpus gracilior) is an evergreen coniferous tree native to the Afromontane forests of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, growing at 1,800-2,400 m altitude.
It is a medium-sized tree, growing 20–40 m tall, rarely to 50 m, with a trunk diameter of 50–80 cm. The leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate, 2–6 cm long and 3–5 mm broad on mature trees, larger, to 10 cm (4 in) long and 6 mm broad on vigorous young trees. The seed cones are highly modified, with a single 2 cm (1 in) diameter seed with a thin fleshy coating borne on a short peduncle. The mature seed is purple, and is dispersed by birds and monkeys which eat the fleshy coating. The pollen cones are solitary or in clusters of two or three on a short stem.
It is an important timber tree in eastern Africa, used for building construction, paneling, flooring and furniture. In horticulture, where it is sometimes known by the confusing name “fern pine“, it is grown as a tree, hedge, screen, or espalier in subtropical regions.
(From Wikipedia on 12.12.13)

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Please validate if the label is appropriate for this tree shot from Botanical garden of Punjabi University, Patiala..
the label says Podocarpus gracilior

As the tree was high up, I was unable to have more pics, moreover, no reproductive structure was borne to get any id hints.. please provide your inputs… I now learn that this is better known as Afrocarpus gracilior…

Afrocarpus gracilior

Pododocarpus gracilior Pilger,
A tree with slender branches, linear 5-10 cm long leaves long-acuminate and stiff; fruit globose 12-18 mm long, hard.

Photographed from SFO, California.

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Requesting to please confirm the ID of this Podocarpus species captured in Jijamata Udyan, Mumbai in January 2014. The placard says Podocarpus elongatus.

Looks different from Podocarpus elongatus as per images and references herein.
May be Afrocarpus gracilior as per images and references herein.

I concur with …

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Tree For ID : Lalbagh,Bangalore : 211213 : AK-27 : Attachments (2). 3 posts by 2 authors.

Tree seen at Lalbagh on 21/11/13

No flowers when picture was taken. Id please.

Podocarpus sp?

May be Afrocarpus gracilior as per images and references herein.

In view of your remarks it is better to recheck the ID of the lalbagh tree.

Do leaves possess any smell ?

Frankly, I can’t recollect the details now.

I just wanted to know as the leaves also have resemblance  to Schinus molle, which leaves have a distinct smell.

I have not seen Schinus molle anywhere in India.
I have seen it in California.

Have posted on Eflora earlier.

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Tree ID from Bangladesh SM169 : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1).

Habit: Tree
Habitat: Park
Location: Dhaka city

Podocarpus sp????

May be Afrocarpus gracilior as per images and references herein.

Afrocarpus gracilior us commonly grown in gardens.

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/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Lalbagh-Bangalore-P1250698.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Lalbagh-Bangalore-P1250697.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Lalbagh-Bangalore-P1250696.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Lalbagh-Bangalore-P1250695.JPG
Tree for ID : Lalbagh,Bangalore : 130618 : AK-6: 10 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (4)

Tree seen during April in Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore.

Could be Podocarpus Species?

Yes.

nice to see you have included tree bark pictures. leaves remind me of Podocarpus.
bark in podocarpus can be very varied, including this kind.
details helps in id but i m not a bark id expert. so cant do better than what you did yourself.

that its podocarpus sp.

Details are not clear at all.
Pl. check with two species cultivated in India as per Podocarpus
I’m not very familiar with Podocarpus Species in general.
Although I have seen Podocarpus Species, probably P. chinensis earlier at Lalbagh.

I think this appears to be some Melaleuca species as per comparative images herein.
Maybe Melaleuca linariifolia (Introduced) as per images and details herein.

Thanks … Could be some Melaleuca if you think so. I thought it to be some Podocarpus Species, not very sure though.

More closer to images at Afrocarpus gracilior (Cultivated)

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Tree For ID : Lalbagh,Bangalore : 301213 : AK-40 : Attachments (2). 3 posts by 2 authors.
A tall, cultivated tree seen at Lalbagh on 25/11/13.

Sorry I don’t have any close up pictures.

It looks like Melaleuca

I think this appears to be some Melaleuca species as per comparative images herein.

Maybe Melaleuca linariifolia (Introduced) as per images and details herein.

… had suggested Afrocarpus gracilior.

Yes, more closer to images at Afrocarpus gracilior (Cultivated)
Updated on December 24, 2024