Shrubby Yew Pine
Shrubby Yew Pine #192:
Tree Guide:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zFDBt15oTJO4.kQSKLJkNTJMo
Scientific Name: Podocarpus macrophyllus
Angiosperm or Gymnosperm: Gymnosperm
Natural Habitat: Eastern China and Japan
Fellow Animals and Plants in Habitat: The Shrubby Yew Pine has several companion plants including the Springtime Indian Hawthorne, the Pink Princess Escallonia, and the Pecos Crape Myrtle. Animals that live in this habitat include hares, squirrels and several species of rats.
Tree Guide:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zFDBt15oTJO4.kQSKLJkNTJMo
Scientific Name: Podocarpus macrophyllus
Angiosperm or Gymnosperm: Gymnosperm
Natural Habitat: Eastern China and Japan
Fellow Animals and Plants in Habitat: The Shrubby Yew Pine has several companion plants including the Springtime Indian Hawthorne, the Pink Princess Escallonia, and the Pecos Crape Myrtle. Animals that live in this habitat include hares, squirrels and several species of rats.
Bark and Leaves:
Leaf Pattern: Bright green evergreen leaves that are about 4 inches long and 1/2 an inch wide. Leaves never undergo a change in colors.
Type of Bark: Fibrous bark that turns from a reddish brown to a light grey as it ages.
Ethnobotony: Shrubby Yew Pines are often manipulated into decorative hedges due to their dark green foliage and dense growth. You can often find them around streets and parking lots, as they are easy to trim and maintain. Some cultures would use the bark to treat against ringworm.
Leaf Pattern: Bright green evergreen leaves that are about 4 inches long and 1/2 an inch wide. Leaves never undergo a change in colors.
Type of Bark: Fibrous bark that turns from a reddish brown to a light grey as it ages.
Ethnobotony: Shrubby Yew Pines are often manipulated into decorative hedges due to their dark green foliage and dense growth. You can often find them around streets and parking lots, as they are easy to trim and maintain. Some cultures would use the bark to treat against ringworm.
Seeds and Fruit:
Type of Seed: Small bright red seeds that ripen into a purplish blue.
Pollination and Spreading: They rely heavily on wind pollination. When birds eat the fruit, it weakens the outer coat of the seed and if the bird deposits the seed in a fertile place it will grow.
Germination Process: Catkin-like structures on male plants produce cones that create pollen.
Type of Seed: Small bright red seeds that ripen into a purplish blue.
Pollination and Spreading: They rely heavily on wind pollination. When birds eat the fruit, it weakens the outer coat of the seed and if the bird deposits the seed in a fertile place it will grow.
Germination Process: Catkin-like structures on male plants produce cones that create pollen.
References:
Abdillahhi, H. S., Verschaeve, L., Finnie, J. F., & Van Staden, J. (2012). Mutagenicity, antimutagenicity and cytotoxicity evaluation of south african podocarpus species. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 139(3), 728-738. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.11.044 Gilman, E. F., & Watson, D. G. (1994). Podocarpus macrophyllus fact sheet. US Forest Service, 1(1), pgs. 1-3. Lu, Y., Jin, B., Wang, L., Wang, D., Jiang, X., Wang., Y., & Chen, P. (2011). Adaptation of male reproductive structures to wind pollination in gymnosperms: Cones and pollen grains. Plant Science, 91(5), 897-906. doi: 10.4141/cjps2011-020 Park, H., Yoda, N., Fukaya, H., Aoyagi, Y., & Takeya, K. (2004). Rakanmakilactones a–f, new cytotoxic sulfur-containing norditerpene dilactones from leaves of podocarpus macrophyllus var. maki. School of Pharmacy,60(1), p. 175. doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2003.10.083 Seiler, J., Jensen, E., Niemiera, A., & Peterson, J. (2012).Shrubby yew pine (podocarpus macrophyllus). Retrieved from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=870 Shrubby yew podocarpus (podocarpus macrophyllus). (2013). Retrieved from http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1996/shrubby-yew-podocarpus.php (2012). The new sunset western gardening book. (9th ed., Vol. 1). New York: Oxmoor House |
Current Research:
In a pharmaceutical study, researchers began to study the chemical characteristics of Shrubby Yew Pine leaves. They found that there are small traces of sulfur compounds inside of the leaves. According to a separate study through the Journal of Ethnopharmacolgy, there are four species of the Podocarpus species of plants that are believed to have certain medicinal powers. The Podocarpus Macrophyllus is one of the four species that is still used for medicinal purposes today in South Africa. One last study was performed by the Agricultural Institute of Canada. They researched into the study of wind pollination and more specifically in gymnosperms such as the Shrubby Yew Pine. Their results showed that wind pollination is not as random as some may believe, gymnosperms have gone through a series of adaptations that make themselves better for wind pollination. Essay: From a superficial aspect, the Shrubby Yew Pine does not stick out as an extravagant tree by any means. Some argue whether or not it is a tree at all. To me, this tree is a combination of a small tree and a large shrub. This tree can stand many environments and is relatively easy to grow. Another important trait of this tree is how easy it is to shape and create things out of it. This gives the planters an incredible amount of creativity and artistic freedom to do anything they want with it. When planting a Shrubby Yew Pine, you become a parent to the tree. It is your responsibility to trim and shape it the best way you see fit. You can either let it grow wildly and out of control or you can shape it and keep it in check. The result is hopefully something you can be proud of in the long run. |