Brown pine
Podocarpus dispermus
Family: Podocarpaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows 5-15 m high and spreads 3-8 m wide. The bark is slightly flaky. It is light brown to grey. The small branches are ribbed. The leaves are simple and 27-45 cm long by 2-3.5 cm wide. They have veins running along the leaf. The leaves are alternate and have short stalks. The leaves are smooth and shiny. The male cone is 5 cm long by 0.3 cm wide. The female cone is in the axils of leaves and is enlarged. The fruit is made up of a green part which is 17-22 mm long by 12-19 mm wide then a red receptacle which is 27-45 mm long. The fruit occur singly or in bunches in the axils of leaves. There is one seed inside. The seed is 10-13 mm long by 8-10 mm wide. The red flesh is edible.
There are about 110 Podocarpus species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.
Where it is found
It suits tropical and subtropical regions. It needs well drained acid soil. They grow naturally in rainforest in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows between 40-720 m above sea level. In Cairns BG.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or from cuttings of firm young growth.
Its other names
Local names
Broad leaved brown pine, Double-seeded podocarp