| Podocarpus
lawrencii (mountain plumpine) is a native shrub that
grows in many relatively well watered parts of Tasmania (and
also extends to south-eastern Australia). It is fire
sensitive and only grows in relatively fire-free areas. It
is slow growing and may live for many hundreds of years. It
mostly grows in alpine and subalpine areas, but occasionally
extends to low altitudes along rivers. It is most commonly
seen sprawling across boulder fields.
The adult leaves are flattened, single veined and
spirally arranged around the stem (although often twisted
so that they all lie in one plane). The leaves are 6-12 mm
long. The female cones comprise one seed sitting on an
enlarged, bright red, fleshy base.
It cannot be confused with any other Tasmanian conifer,
and the pine-smell of the crushed leaves will distinguish
it from any flowering plant.
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University of Tasmania
