Podocarpus lawrencei Hook.f.

Hardy, shrubby, decorative dwarf conifer, forming a low, densely-branched mound or a creeping carpet to 1-2 metres across.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’, FNSW].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1825.  [RHSD].  J.D.Hooker provides a little of the botanical history in preliminary remarks on the botany of Tasmania following his Antarctic Expedition.  ‘This is a very distinct species, though possessing neither flower nor fruit; still the habit and appearance are altogether like P. spinulosa R.Br., and the woody tissue presents a single series of minute glandular dots.  The twigs are slender, the leaves nearly half an inch long, slightly curved, about two lines broad, of a pale green, somewhat glaucous underneath.

I have been anxious so far as materials exist for that purpose to record in this Natural Order the names of those individuals who have done most for the Botany of this island.  Since the days when Mr. Brown collected his extraordinary herbarium, and first brought to light a host of Tasmanian plants in the “Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae”, there has been no more successful Botanist for the time than the late Mr. Lawrence, who commenced forming a herbarium of the whole island, a work which Mr. Gunn has almost concluded.’  [London Journal of Botany vol.4, p.151/1845]. 

Podocarpus alpinus (Alpine Podocarp) is a neat and very distinct conifer, but unfortunately one whose hardihood cannot be relied upon in all parts of this country.  It is of rather spreading habit, and with an abundance of short bright-coloured foliage.  For planting in a warm corner, and in conjunction with low-growing plants, it is valuable.’  [Transactions of the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society vol.12, p.280/1890].

History at Camden Park

Two plants were sent to John Lindley in 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.157] and one to Sir William Hooker. [MP A2933-1, p.165].  This is the only record but Macarthur presumably grew these plants.  He probably obtained them from customers in Tasmania.

Notes

Published Aug 09, 2009 - 02:58 PM | Last updated Jul 29, 2010 - 05:02 PM


More details about Podocarpus lawrencei Hook.f.
Family Podocarpaceae
Category
Region of origin

Eastern Australia, including Tasmania, primarily in high country

Synonyms
  • Podocarpus alpinus R.Br. ex Mirb.
  • Nageia alpina (Hook.f.) F.Muell.
  • Podocarpus totara var. alpinus Carrière
  • Podocarpus alpinus Hook.f.
  • Podocarpus alpinus var. lawrencei (Hook.f.) Hook.f.
Common Name

Mountain plum pine, Alpine podocarp

Name in the Camden Park Record

Podocarpus alpina 

Confidence level high