Species information Abo ut Reso urces Hom e A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Prumnopitys amara Click on images to enlarge Family Podocarpaceae Scientific Name Prumnopitys amara (Blume) de Laub. Laubenfels, D.J. de (1978) Blumea 24(1): 190. Common name Leaves and male cones. Copyright CSIRO Black Pine; Pine, Black Stem Bark of large trees almost black. Pale snake-like stripes may occur in the blaze, when cut, the stripes exude a clear resin. Leaves Leaf blades about 6-17 x 0.7-1.5 cm. When lightly chewed the leaves have a sugary taste but with further chewing the taste becomes bitter. No lateral veins visible on either side of the midrib. Fruit, side views and seed. Copyright W. T. Cooper Flowers Male cones about 25-40 x 5 mm, peduncle very short or nil. Fruit Receptacle small and inconspicuous. Fruits globular, about 25-35 x 25-30 mm. Seeds globular, about 20-25 x 20-25 mm, endocarp about 1.5 mm thick. Embryo small, resembling a twisted piece of cotton. Seedlings Cotyledons three, linear, about 20-25 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade oblong, about 5-7 cm long, apex long-acuminate, base cuneate, glabrous, no lateral veins present; petiole, stem and terminal bud Scale bar 10mm. Copyright CSIRO glabrous. Seed germination time 480 to 583 days. Distribution and Ecology Occurs in NEQ. Altitudinal range from 600-1200 m. Grows in well developed upland and mountain rain forest. Also occurs in Malesia. Natural History & Notes Fallen fruit eaten by Cassowaries. Cooper & Cooper (1994). This species produces a useful timber with a variety of uses including boxes, butter churns, office fittings, kitchen fittings, internal house sheeting. Swain (1928). 10th leaf stage. Copyright CSIRO Wood specific gravity 0.49. Cause et al. (1989). Tree X Synonyms Sundacarpus amarus (Blume) C.N.Page, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 45: 378 (1988). Stachycarpus amarus (Blume) Gaussen, Trav. Lab. Forest. Toulouse 2 1(2): 105(1974). Podocarpus amara Blume, Enumeratio Plantarum Javae : 88(1828), Type: Kimerak Sund, Java, Kuhl & Hasselt 731; holo: L. Fide K. D. Hill (1998). Podocarpus pedunculatus F.M.Bailey, Queensland Cotyledon stage, epigeal germination. Copyright CSIRO Agricultural Journal 5(4): 390(1899), Type: Herberton district, J.F. Bailey; holo: BRI. RFK Code 41 CC-BY Australian Tropical Herbarium unless otherwise indicated in the images..