Podocarpus glaucus

Foxw. (1907)

Common names

In West New Guinea it is nipa in the Kebar language, and bèbiai in the Kapauko language (de Laubenfels 1988).

Taxonomic notes

This small-leaved montane species likely belongs to the Malesian clade of Podocarpus, but does not appear to have been subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Description

"Decumbent shrub to small or medium-sized tree, 2-15 m tall, up to 20-25 cm diam. Foliage buds 1-1.5 mm long and 1.5 mm in diam.; primary bud-scales 0.6 mm wide. Juvenile leaves oval, 2-3.5 cm by 5-7 mm. Adult leaves ovate, the widest part somewhat beyond the centre, 1-2 cm by 3-6 mm, round and very blunt at the apex, narrowing at the base to a 2-3 mm petiole; revolute, crowded, flushing red, at least sometimes glaucous; midrib above a distinct ridge 0.2 mm wide. Pollen cones 1-2 cm long, often elongating in the basal scaly part to 1-2 mm. Female receptacle becoming purple when mature. Seed with its covering with a distinct crest... Sterile young plants resemble P. pilgeri, but with crowded leaves" (de Laubenfels 1988).

Distribution and Ecology

Indonesia (Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua); Papua New Guinea (Bismarck Archipelago); Philippines; Solomon Islands. It grows as a "medium-sized tree in the forest or more often dwarfed or even decumbent on mountain crests in stunted mossy forests, often locally common, [at elevations of] (500-)1000-2800 m. Recorded from stony, sandy clay and from a limestone ridge associated with Gymnostoma and Rhododendron, near Kiunga and Wissel Lakes (New Guinea) on peaty soil" (de Laubenfels 1988).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2026-01-23.

Ethnobotany

No data as of 2026-01-23.

Observations

No data as of 2026-01-23.

Remarks

The epithet refers to "glaucous", a bluish-white foliage coloration common in conifers. It is not reported as a consistent color in P. glaucus, however.

Citations

Foxworthy, F. W. 1907. Philippine Journal of Science, Botany V. 2 p. 258. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2026.01.23.

See also

de Laubenfels, David J. 1978. The taxonomy of the Philippine Coniferae and Taxaceae. Kalikasan 7:138.

Foxworthy, F. W. 1911. Philippine gymnosperms. Philippine Journal of Science, C. Botany 6(3):149-177 (p. 159). Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2026.01.19.

Gaussen (1976).

Gray, Netta E. 1958. A Taxonomic Revision of Podocarpus, XI. The South Pacific Species of Section Podocarpus, Subsection B. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 39:440. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2023.01.08.

Pilger (1926), p. 248.

Wasscher. 1941. Blumea 4:456.