Brown Pine, Plum Pine
Podocarpus elatus

Family: Podocarpaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows to 5-15 m high. It can be 40 m tall. It spreads 3.5-8 m wide. The bark is grey to brown and fibrous. The branches stick out or curve upwards. The young growth is yellowish green or pink. The small branches have ribs. The leaves are 6-18 cm long by 0.5-1.4 cm wide. They are deep green on top and paler underneath. The male cones are about 3 cm long. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. They have very short stalks. The female cones are single and greenish on a large fleshy blue black stem. These plum like fruit are edible.

There are about 100 Podocarpus species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

It occurs in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is a rainforest species in tropical and warm temperate regions. They need well drained acidic soils. It can stand light frosts. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. Arboretum Tasmania. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Hobart Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Hawaii, Indonesia, Pacific, SE Asia, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The fruit receptacle is fleshy and edible. It is high in Vitamin C. It is used in jams and jellies, chutneys and sauces, and added to muffins, cakes, puddings and pastries.

Edible parts

Fruit stalk, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seeds can take 2 months to germinate. They can also be grown from cuttings of firm young growth. Cuttings can be slow to form roots.

Trees often only fruit well on some years.

Its other names

Local names

Cemara coklat, Goongum, Illawarra plum, She Pine, Yellow Pine

Synonyms

Nageia elata (Endl.) F. Muell.; Podocarpus ensifolius Carriere;