Podocarps

Halocarpus bidwillii seeds. Photo: Mike Thorsen.Podocarps are trees or shrubs that have linear or scale-like leaves and are usually dioecious. They have a female cone that is usually reduced to one ovule with a seed bearing bract or fruit. The name podocarp means ‘foot seed’ which refers to the position of the seed at the foot of the fruit rather than being enclosed by it.

There are eight genera with native species in New Zealand:

• Podocarpus
• Dacrydium
• Prumnopitys
• Dacrycarpus
• Halocarpus
• Lepidothamnus
• Manoao

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides seedling. Photo: Jeremy RolfeFor more information see

• Podocarp-hardwood forests (DOC website)
• The New Zealand lowland podocarp forest. Is it sub-tropical? by John Dawson (1962). Tuatara 9 (3).
• Light environments in temperate New Zealand podocarp rainforests by Dale McDonald and David Norton (1992). NZ Journal of Ecology 16(1) 15 - 22
• Susceptibility of New Zealand podocarp timbers to Hylotrupes Bajulus Linneaus by R.H. Milligan