Podocarpus elatus

Taxobox
name = "Podocarpus elatus"
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Podocarpaceae
genus = "Podocarpus"
species = "P. elatus"
binomial = "Podocarpus elatus"
binomial_authority = R.Br.

"Podocarpus elatus", commonly known as the Illawarra plum, the plum pine or the brown pine is a species of "Podocarpus" endemic to the east coast of Australia, in eastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland.

It is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree growing to 30-36 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter. The leaves are lanceolate, 5-15 cm long (to 25 cm long on vigorous young trees) and 6-18 mm broad. The seed cones are dark blue-purple, berry-like, with a fleshy base 2-2.5 cm diameter bearing a single oval or globose seed 1 cm in diameter. The fleshy part is edible, and is used in condiments.

References

*ANU Forestry [http://sres.anu.edu.au/associated/fpt/nwfp/iplum/Iplum.html#anchor281213 Illawarra plum - "Podocarpus elatus"]
* Bruneteau, Jean-Paul, "Tukka, Real Australian Food", ISBN 0-207-18966-8.
*Dallimore, W., & Jackson, A. B. (1966). "Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae". Arnold.
* [http://www.conifers.org/po/po/elatus.htm Gymnosperm Database: "Podocarpus elatus"]
* Low, Tim, "Wild Food Plants of Australia", ISBN 0-207-16930-6.