Oleander Podocarp, Brown Pine
Podocarpus neriifolius

Family: Podocarpaceae

What it is like

Podocarpus neriifolius or otherwise known as Brown Pine is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia that grows up to 45 m tall and 100 cm across. It has a dome-shaped canopy, cylindrical and straight trunk, and is buttressed for up to 2 m high. It is a dioecious species. The bark is grey-brown, scaly, and cracked. The leaves taper to the tip and are oval in shape. Leaf decoction is used as remedy for rheumatism and arthritis. Fruit is eaten raw. The wood is of high quality and used for general carpentry, boat making, furniture, musical instruments, and many more. Plants can be grown from seeds, layers, or cuttings. Germination rate is slow and can take up to a year or more.

Podocarpus neriifolius is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 25

Where it is found

A subcanopy to occasional canopy tree in evergreen broadleaved forests. Hill and montane forests. Hot, humid forests, coastal and lowland swamp forests, on volcanic soils.

E. Asia - India, Sikkim, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; Fiji; India; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Solomon Islands; Thailand; Viet Nam

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Fruit - raw. The orange-red fruit is about 8 - 10 _ 5 - 8mm.

Medicine

Rating: 2

A decoction of the leaves has been used as a treatment for rheumatism and arthritis. The juice from the leaves is prepared as a remedy against maggot infested sores.

Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Other

Rating: 4

Accent. Planter. Specimen. Screening. Topiary. Large Planter. Conservatory. Agroforestry Uses: Plants are tolerant of pruning and can be grown as a large screen. Other Uses The heartwood is greyish yellow or pale brown to golden brown; it is often not clearly demarcated from the paler sapwood. It is fine and even-textured; close and straight-grained, lustrous. The wood is light in weight, fairly hard, not very durable when exposed but resistant to termites and insects. It is easy to saw, but softer boards show a tendency to crumble on end grain; it can be planed, shaped, turned, mortized, and sanded with good results and to a smooth finish; the results of boring are sometimes rated as moderate; generally the wood holds nails well, but large nails may cause some splitting; gluing, staining, varnishing and painting properties are stisfactory. A high quality timber, it is used for general carpentry, boat making, furniture, musical instruments, carvings etc. The wood is pulped for making paper.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Hedge: Plants that can be grown as hedges.

Paper: Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Hedge: Hedge

How it is grown

Found in humid subtropical to tropical areas at elevations from around sea level up to 2,100 metres, though its optimum is between 900 - 1,500 metres. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 3,700mm with a uniformly distributed summer rain and up to 5 months of dry season. Optimal temperature range is 25 - 30°c with the coldest months having only between 8 - 24°c. Prefers a position in full sun or bright shade. Plants are shade tolerant, at least when young. Succeeds in a range of soils, preferring fertile, slightly acid conditions. Most species in this genus are tolerant of hard pruning, being able to regrow from old wood. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed - generally slow to germinate, taking one year or more. Seeds that have passed through the gut of an animal germinate faster. Seeds have been known to germinate in the dense shade of a woodland. Cuttings should include an erect lead shoot if a good form is required. If side shoots are used, the resulting plant will be prostrate.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Djadjaruman, Lempega, Penejuak, Seluang, Sensarut, Plum pine, Sentada, Jati bukit, Taji, Wuluan, Handalaska, Ki bima, Ki malela, Ki panchar, Ki putri, Ki sereum, Sangching, Thitmin, Mounteak, Halis, Katbhaluka, Jinari, Dieng-sia-blei, Gunsi, Kherewal-tak, Thlang-phari, Dung kung, Welimada, Tu-far, brown pine, mountain teak.

Synonyms

Margbensonia neriifolia (D. Don) A.V.Bobrov & Melikyan Nageia discolor (Blume) Kuntze Nageia neglect