Podocarpus drouynianus
Encyclopedia
Podocarpus drouynianus is a species of podocarp
native to the relatively high rainfall southwestern corner of Western Australia
, where it is known by the name Wild Plum, although it is not a true plum
. It grows around creeks
in sandy or gravelly soil. It is usually a shrub
, not often forming a single trunk, instead growing multiple branches from around the base. It is very slow-growing. The leaves
are needle-like, 4-8 cm long, sharply pointed, green above and with glaucous stomatal bands beneath. The cones
are berry-like, with a fleshy, edible purple aril
2-2.5 cm long and one (rarely two) apical seed
s 1 cm long.
Podocarpus
Podocarpus is a genus of conifers, the most numerous and widely distributed of the podocarp family Podocarpaceae. The 105 species of Podocarpus are evergreen shrubs or trees from 1-25 m in height...
native to the relatively high rainfall southwestern corner of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, where it is known by the name Wild Plum, although it is not a true plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
. It grows around creeks
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
in sandy or gravelly soil. It is usually a shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
, not often forming a single trunk, instead growing multiple branches from around the base. It is very slow-growing. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are needle-like, 4-8 cm long, sharply pointed, green above and with glaucous stomatal bands beneath. The cones
Conifer cone
A cone is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta that contains the reproductive structures. The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which produces seeds. The male cones, which produce pollen, are usually herbaceous and much less conspicuous even at full maturity...
are berry-like, with a fleshy, edible purple aril
Aril
An aril is any specialized outgrowth from the funiculus that covers or is attached to the seed. It is sometimes applied to any appendage or thickening of the seed coat in flowering plants, such as the edible parts of the mangosteen and pomegranate fruit, the mace of the nutmeg seed, or the...
2-2.5 cm long and one (rarely two) apical seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s 1 cm long.