Podocarpus dispermus

(Broad-leafed Brown Pine)

Description

This small tree is planted on the northern side of the Atika Creek bridge on the Cairns Campus. Leaves usually alternate but not spirally arranged on the twigs, so that they appear to be in the one plane, leathery. Leaf blades 10-20 cm long x 2-3.5 cm wide, petioles short, about 0.3-0.5 cm long. Midrib raised on the upper surface of the leaf blade. A distinguishing feature are the fine vein-like markings, running parallel with the midrib, visible on both the upper and lower surfaces.

The “fruit” consists of the receptacle which is red when the seeds are mature and the fruits which are green but often with a bluish waxy coating. Receptacles (seed stalks) large and fleshy, about 27-30 long x 14-30 mm wide and usually bear 1 or 2 fruits containing the seeds, As this plant is a conifer, it does not have true flowers or fruits. Male cones up to 5 cm long and 3 mm wide.