Podocarpus costalis

C.Presl (1849)

Common names

蘭嶼羅漢松 or 兰屿罗汉松 lányǔ luóhànsōng [Chinese].

Taxonomic notes

Syn: Nageia costalis (C.Presl) Kuntze (Farjon 1998); P. polystachyus (not R.Br.) Li & Keng (de Laubenfels 1988).

Description

"Small tree c. 1-5 m high, possibly higher. Foliage buds 2-4 mm long, primary scales erect. Juvenile leaves up to at least 9 by 1.3 cm, acute or more or less rounded at the apex. Adult leaves linear, 4-7 cm (or as little as 2.5 cm on short side branches) by 5-10 mm, broadly acute or more usually rounded at the apex, sometimes with a small blunt apiculus, narrowing more or less abruptly at the base to a 2-3 mm petiole, slightly revolute; midrib above a distinct ridge 0.3 mm wide and 0.2 mm high. Seed-bearing structure on a 4-6 mm peduncle; foliola c. 1.5 mm long and early caducous; receptacle 12-15 mm long, reported to be red when mature. Seed with its covering 9-10 (including a small crest) by 6-7 mm. ... [O]ften confused with P. polystachyus because of a similar habitat and similar sized leaves. The leaves of P. costalis are slightly revolute while those of P. polystachyus are not" (de Laubenfels 1988).

Distribution and Ecology

Philippines: N Luzon, Bucas, and other islands between Luzon and Taiwan; Taiwan: Orchid Island. Found on coastal bluffs from sea level to at least 300 m elevation (de Laubenfels 1988). Based on data from 11 collection localities, its climate preferences include a mean annual temperature of 24.4°C, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 16.5°C, and a mean annual precipitation of 2383 mm (Biffin et al. 2011, Table S5).

The IUCN reports that this taxon is facing a very high near-term risk of extinction in the wild due to ongoing loss of habitat.

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2026-01-21.

Ethnobotany

Widely cultivated in the Philippines (de Laubenfels 1988).

Observations

No data as of 2026-01-21.

Remarks

The epithet is Latin for "coastal", referring to the habitat.

Citations

Presl, C. 1849. Epimel. Bot., p. 236. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2026.01.19.

See also

The species account at Threatened Conifers of the World.

Foxworthy, F. W. 1911. Philippine gymnosperms. Philippine Journal of Science, C. Botany 6(3):149-177 (p. 161). Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2026.01.19.

Gaussen (1976), p. 191.

Gray, Netta E. 1958. A Taxonomic Revision of Podocarpus, XI. The South Pacific Species of Section Podocarpus, Subsection B. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 39:456. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2023.01.08.

Huang 1994 (the Flora of Taiwan).

Li. 1963. Woody Fl. Taiwan 41, f. 5.

Li and Keng. 1954. Taiwania 5:34, t. 5.

Pilger. 1903. Pfl. R. IV, 5, Heft 18:78.