Podocarpus Macrophyllus seeds

16 years ago

I have a big leaf podocarpus that has some red berries on it. The birds have been eating them so I removed some and am cleaning them. I can't find information about whether pretreating them is necessary in Dirr's manual or elsewhere. Anyone know?

Also, I'm assuming only the berries that turned red will make viable seeds and the green ones will not. Is that right.

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Comments (4)

pineresin
16 years ago
"Also, I'm assuming only the berries that turned red will make viable seeds and the green ones will not. Is that right"

Yep.

Take the seed off the tip of the 'berry' (actually a modified cone, not really a berry!), and sow. Germination may not happen until next spring.

Resin
tcharles26
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks

RE: 'berry' (actually a modified cone, not really a berry!)

I'm glad you said that. Because I've wondered about this. Conifers are gymnosperms right, which means naked seed. But In the case of this podocarpus, and the junipers that grow here the seed isn't naked. It's covered in fleshy material (that normally one would call fruit or berry).

Why isnt a juniper 'berry' or a podocarpus 'berry' not technically a berry. Just wondering becuase I've actually told friends and relatives that juniper berries are actually cones and they look at me like I shuld be wearing a helmet. Thanks
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pineresin
16 years ago
Glad to help!

The term 'gymnosperm' is in respect of the cones at pollination - if you look at any conifer seed cone at the pollination stage, you can (with a magnifying glass) look down between the scales and see the exposed ovules (not embedded in an ovary as in flowering plants).

As the cones and seeds develop, the cone scales close over the seed, so it is no longer naked by that stage. In 'traditional' conifers (pines, cypresses, etc), the scales are woody, and split apart again at maturity to let the seeds out, but in junipers, the scales that grow over the seeds are fleshy and fused together, adapted to be digested by birds which then pass the seeds in their droppings (so they are functionally like berries). In podocarps, the seed sits on top of 2 or 3 fused, fleshy scales (look closely at the fleshy red bit, you can see the lines marking the edges of the scales). In yews, the seed is half-enclosed in a single fleshy scale.

Resin

Here is a link that might be useful:
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
16 years ago
Thanks, Resin- great info!

tj

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Podocarpus Macrophyllus seeds

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pineresin

tcharles26
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Podocarpus Macrophyllus seeds

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pineresin

tcharles26Original Author

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tcharles26
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