Podocarpus acutifolius
Common name
Westland tōtara, needle-leaved tōtara
Family
Podocarpaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Gymnosperms
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
PODACU
Chromosome number
2n = 34
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (mostly westerly from the Buller River and adjoining tributaries, west and south to Martins Bay)
Habitat
Lowland to montane along river flats, in forest or open shrubland and grassland. Often forming dense thickets along active and passive river channels.
Features
Shrub or small tree up to 15 m tall, Trunk often several (due to suckering from base), main trunk up to 0.4 m diameter breast height Bark somewhat chartaceous, stringy and thin, flaking readily in long or short strips. Branches erect, slender up to 9 m. Branchlets erect, slender initially densely leafy, leaves shedding along branchlet with age. Leaves 15.0-23.0 × 0.75-3.5 mm, dark green to yellow-green, linear, acuminate, pungent, mid-vein indistinct; stomatal lines often conspicuous. Male strobili axillary, solitary or up to 4 together on common peduncle 2-3 mm long; peduncle furnished above with 2 narrow-triangular keeled scales and below with 4 ovate scales; strobilus 10-20 mm long; apiculus obtuse. Ovules solitary or in pairs on peduncle c.1 mm long; receptacle 2.5-7.0 mm long, red irregularly elliptic-oblong to obovate-oblong, slightly compressed, smooth, swollen (fleshy). Seeds solitary or paired, 4.0-5.5 mm long, green when fresh, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, slightly asymmetric, narrow-acuminate, blunt or subacute.
Similar taxa
Podocarpus acutifolius is superficially similar to P. totara var. waihoensis - which is is believed to be a hybrid arising from introgression between P. acutifolius and P. totara var. totara (see Wardle 1972). Both totara species are occasionally found growing sympatrically or even syntopically. Podocarpus acutifolius differs from P. totara var. waihoensis by its usually smaller shrubby growth habit, much narrow leaves tree habit, and seeds which are elliptic to ovate-elliptic and narrowly beaked (cf. broadly elliptic, shortly and more broadly beaked). From the other totara P. acutifolius differs by the suckering and multi-trunked often shrubby growth habit, much slender branches, narrow-linear leaves, and elliptic to ovate-elliptic, narrowly beaked seeds.
Flowering
September - November
Flower colours
No flowers
Fruiting
December - June
Propagation technique
Easily grown from hardwood cuttings and fresh seed. Does well in full sun in a well drained, moist fertile soil. Podocarpus acutifolius is moderately fast growing due to its compact, upright branching growth habit makes an excellent hedge. The species is rather variable ranging from large shrubs to small trees and there does seem to be some genetic basis for this. The most commonly cultivated form of it (at least in the North Island) makes a densely branched shrub up to 4 m tall and 2 m wide. Although reasonably drought tolerant, P. acutifolius does best in a damp soil, and is an excellent shrub to plant along waterways in urban areas. When planted in mass its fine sharp needles serve as an almost unequalled deterrent to animals and unwanted “visitors”.
Etymology
podocarpus: Foot or stalk fruit
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 4 January 2012. Description adapted from Allan (1961) and Webb & Simpson (2001).
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Volume I. Wellington, Government Printer.
Wardle, P. 1972: Podocarpus totara var. waihoensis var. nov.: the result of introgressive hybridisation between P. totara and P. acutifolius. New Zealand Journal of Botany 10: 195-201.
Webb, C.J.; Simpson, M.J.A. 2001: Seeds of New Zealand Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Christchurch, Manuka Press.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Podocarpus acutifolius Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/podocarpus-acutifolius/ (Date website was queried)