Editing Podocarpus latifolius

{{Short description|Species of conifer}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Podocarpus latifolius - Cape Town - 3.JPG
| image_caption = A mature ''Podocarpus latifolius'' growing in a [[Cape Town]] botanical garden.
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Farjon, A. |author2=Foden, W. |author3=Potter, L. |date=2013 |title=''Podocarpus latifolius'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T42510A2983787 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42510A2983787.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Podocarpus
| species = latifolius
| authority = ([[Carl Peter Thunberg|Thunb.]]) [[Robert Brown (Scottish botanist from Montrose)|R.Br.]] ex [[Charles-François Brisseau de Mirbel|Mirb.]]
}}

'''''Podocarpus latifolius''''' ('''real yellowwood''', '''broad-leaved yellowwood''', or '''South African yellowwood''', {{langx|af|Opregte-geelhout}}, {{langx|nso|Mogôbagôba}}, {{langx|xh|Umcheya}}, {{langx|zu|Umkhoba}})<ref name="dwaf">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www2.dwaf.gov.za/dwaf/cmsdocs/4116___poster%20protected%20trees.pdf
 |title       = Protected Trees
 |date        = 3 May 2013
 |publisher   = Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100705085122/http://www2.dwaf.gov.za/dwaf/cmsdocs/4116___poster%20protected%20trees.pdf
 |archive-date = 5 July 2010
}}</ref> is a large [[evergreen]] [[tree]] up to 35&nbsp;m high and 3&nbsp;m trunk diameter, in the [[Pinophyta|conifer]] family [[Podocarpaceae]]; it is the [[biological type|type species]] of the genus ''[[Podocarpus]]''.

The real yellowwood has been declared the [[national tree]] of [[South Africa]] and is protected there.<ref name="dwaf"/>

==Appearance==
[[File:Podocarpus latifolius - Cape Town - 2.JPG|thumb|left|Detail of the characteristic foliage of the real yellowwood]]
The real yellowwood is a large evergreen tree that grows up to 30 meters in height. It grows relatively slowly but forms a wood of exceptional quality.

The [[leaf|leaves]] are strap-shaped, 25–40&nbsp;mm long on mature trees or up to 100&nbsp;mm long on young trees, and 6–12&nbsp;mm broad, with a bluntly pointed tip. The species name ''"latifolius"'' is Latin for "broad-leaved". The bright-coloured foliage of new growth stands out against the dark leaves of mature foliage.

The [[Conifer cone|cones]] of this [[dioecious]] tree are berry-like, with a single (rarely two) 7–11&nbsp;mm [[seed]] apical on an 8–14&nbsp;mm pink-purple [[aril]]; the aril is edible and sweet. The male ([[pollen]]) cones are 10–30&nbsp;mm long.

==Distribution==
It is native to the moister southern and eastern areas of [[South Africa]], from coastal areas of the [[Western Cape]] east to [[KwaZulu-Natal]] and north to eastern [[Limpopo]]. Pockets are naturally found further north in and around Zimbabwe.

It is commonly found in afro-temperate [[Forest|forests]] and often in mountainous areas. In harsh or exposed areas it tends to become stunted, small and dense.

==Ecology==
''Podocarpus latifolius'' is the preferred [[phorophyte]] species of ''[[Solenangis conica]]'', an epiphytic orchid.<ref name = "Hyde et al., 2023">Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2023). Flora of Malawi: Species information: ''Solenangis conica''. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=118960</ref>

==Human usage==
[[File:Podocarpus latifolius - Cape Town - 1.JPG|thumb|right|A young specimen growing on the slopes of [[Table Mountain]]]]
It is a slow-growing tree but exceptionally long-lived, and is increasingly grown as an ornamental feature in [[South Africa]]n gardens. The unusual texture of the foliage is a reason for its growing popularity. The bright edible berries attract birds, which spread the seed.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

The [[wood]] is hard, similar to [[Taxus|yew]] wood, used for furniture, panelling, etc. Due to past over-exploitation, little is now cut.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

==Taxonomy==
===Relationship to ''Podocarpus milanjianus''===
''Podocarpus latifolius'' is closely related to ''[[Podocarpus milanjianus]]''. Whether they are a single or two separate species is not settled. Some authorities treat the South African populations as ''Podocarpus latifolius'', and those elsewhere in Africa as ''Podocarpus milanjianus''. Others treat them as a single species, ''Podocarpus latifolius''.<ref name = tropical>Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. Accessed 8 March 2022.<tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Podocarpus+milanjianus></ref>

A 2020 study sampled DNA from ''Podocarpus latifolius'' and ''Podocarpus milanjianus'' trees, gathered from 88 sites across Africa. They concluded that all populations sampled constituted a single species: "As South African samples (''P. latifolius'') did not form a clade separated from the other clades (''P. milanjianus''), we confirm that the two taxa can be considered as synonyms." The authors concluded that the species originated in East Africa. The western populations, in the [[Cameroonian Highlands forests|highlands of Cameroon and Nigeria]] and in the Angolan highlands, diverged from the other populations around 300,000 years ago, and the species expanded to its current distribution pattern about 200,000 years ago.<ref name = Migliore>Jérémy Migliore, Anne-Marie Lézine, Olivier J Hardy, The recent colonization history of the most widespread Podocarpus tree species in Afromontane forests, Annals of Botany, Volume 126, Issue 1, 29 June 2020, Pages 73–83, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaa049</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140810205418/http://www.gov.za/aboutsa/symbols/index.html South African National Symbols]
* {{cite web |title=''Podocarpus latifolius''|work=PlantZAfrica.com|url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podocarplati.htm|access-date=2010-03-04}}
* [https://archive.today/20130916191231/http://www.ispot.org.za/species_dictionary/Podocarpus%20latifolius Images on iSpot]
* [http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/plants/coniferophyta/podocarpaceae/podocarpus_latifolius.htm Biodiversity Explorer]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q164767}}

[[Category:Podocarpus|latifolius]]
[[Category:Afromontane flora]]
[[Category:Flora of Southern Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of South Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of the Cape Provinces]]
[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
[[Category:Least concern plants]]
[[Category:Least concern biota of Africa]]
[[Category:National symbols of South Africa]]
[[Category:Protected trees of South Africa]]
[[Category:Trees of South Africa]]
[[Category:Trees of Mediterranean climate]]
[[Category:Garden plants of Southern Africa]]
[[Category:Ornamental trees]]
[[Category:Plants used in bonsai]]