''Podocarpus aristulatus'' is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree in the

conifer Conifers are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single ...

family Podocarpaceae. It is found on the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

islands of

Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ; es, La Española; Latin and french: Hispaniola; ht, Ispayola; tnq, Ayiti or Quisqueya) is an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Greater Antilles. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and th ...

and Cuba.

Description

''Podocarpus aristulatus'' grows to 10–20 m tall. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are elliptical to linear, 2–4 cm long and 5–8 mm broad, arranged spirally on the shoots. The seed cones are berry-like, with fleshy red receptacle and one (occasionally two) apical seeds 7–10 mm long.

Uses

In the mountainous regions of the central Dominican Republic, where it is known as "palo de cruz" (or wood of the cross), it is used for axe handles and pestles, because of the durable quality of the wood. Its leaves are used for medicinal teas. As part of the religious beliefs of the area, small pieces are placed above the door frame on the inside of houses as a way of warding off evil spirits.

Synonymy

Synonymy: ''Nageia aristulata'', ''Podocarpus angustifolius'' var. ''aristulatus'', ''Podocarpus angustifolius'' var. ''wrightii'', ''Podocarpus buchii'', ''Podocarpus angustifolius'' subsp. ''buchii'', ''Podocarpus leonii'', ''Podocarpus angustifolius'' var. ''leonii'', ''Podocarpus victorinianus'', ''Podocarpus angustifolius'' subsp. ''buchii'' var. ''latifolius''.

References

aristulatus Trees of Cuba Trees of the Dominican Republic Trees of Haiti Medicinal plants of North America {{conifer-stub