Species

Podocarpus nivalis

Etymology

Podocarpus: foot or stalk fruit
nivalis: snow dweller

Common Name(s)

Mountain totara, snow totara

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Podocarpus nivalis Hook.

Family

Podocarpaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

PODNIV

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Gymnosperm Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Podocarpus nivalis Hook. var. nivalis, Podocarpus nivalis var. erectus Cockayne

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: North and South Islands from Mt Hikurangi and Mt Pirongia south.

Habitat

Montane to alpine (virtually confined to subalpine and alpine areas in the North Island). Common in open tussock grassland, subalpine scrub and herbfield, at the base of active scree, amongst boulderfalls and on cliff faces and razorback ridges. Sometimes extending down into beech (Nothofagus forest) and down into valley heads.

Features

Prostrate to suberect, spreading woody shrub forming broadly domed patches up to 1.5 × 3.0 m. Trunk usually indistinct (mostly obscured by branches), slender, solitary (sometimes several arising from base). Branches numerous, spreading with slender trunk, branchlets densely leafy. Leaves bronze-green, dark green, sometimes dark wine-red or bronze-purple, closely spaced, spirally arranged, erect or sub-patent, rigid, coriaceous; lamina 5-15 × 2-4 mm, linear-oblong,± subulate, obtuse, apex ± apiculate, margins distinctly thickened, midvein prominent. Male strobili axillary, solitary or up to 4 per peduncle; peduncle 3-5 mm long, strobilus 5-15 mm long, apiculus obtuse. Female branchlet axillary, peduncle 3 mm. long, receptacle 2.5-10.0 mm long, red, elliptic-oblong to obovate-oblong, slightly compressed, smooth, swollen (fleshy). Seeds solitary or paired, 3·5-7·0 mm long, green when fresh, ovoid or ellipsoid-ovoid, weakly asymmetric, obtusely pointed.

Similar Taxa

None. The prostrate or spreading suberect, heavily branched growth habit, densely leafy branchlets, and small, closely spaced, awl-shaped usually bronze-green leaves serve to distinguish this species from the other allied species of totara. Nevertheless where the ranges of Podocarpus nivalis overlap with that of Hall's totara (P. laetus), totara (P. totara var. totara) and needle-leaved totara (P. acutifolius) hybrids can be common - these are chiefly distinguished by their suberect to erect growth habit, often pendulous branches and much longer, narrower leaves which are not distinctly awl-shaped. The hybrids are fully fertile and introgressive hybrid swarms are sometimes common, especially where than ranges of Hall's totara and P. nivalis overlap. Podocarpus nivalis has also been confused with the Australian P. lawrencei which differs from P. nivalis in a range of characters but most notably by its consistently dark purple-brown coloured foliage.

Flowering

September - November

Flower Colours

No Flowers

Fruiting

December - June

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from hardwood cuttings and fresh seed. Does well in full sun in a well drained, moist fertile soil. An excellent shrub for a rockery or small garden. A good subject for a tub garden or for making into bonsai. Despite its natural distribution Podocarpus nivalis is remarkably tolerant of drought and humidity.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 38

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Taxonomic Notes

Podocarpus nivalis has also (incorrectly) been referred by some New Zealand authors to the Australian endemic P. lawrencei.
 
Fact Sheet Citation

 

Please cite as:  de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of Access): Podocarpus nivalis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1175  (Date website was queried)

Attribution

Factsheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 4 January 2012. Description adapted from Allan (1961) and Webb & Simpson (2001).

References and further reading

Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I, Wellington, Government Printer.

de Lange, P.J. 1998. Two interesting plant records from Mt. Pirongia western Waikato. Auckland Botanical Society Journal, 53: 66-69

Webb, C.J.; Simpson, M.J.A. 2001: Seeds of New Zealand Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Christchurch, Manuka Press.

This page last updated on 17 Sep 2018