Buddhist pine

There are about 100 species in the yellowwood family, and almost all of them are found in the southern hemisphere. Buddisth pine is the species that is found furthest to the north.

Buddhist pine has green seeds which sit on a swollen, red, berrylike seed stalk. The seeds and seed stalks are eaten by birds that can digest the juicy seed stalks, but not the seeds themselves. The seeds pass through the bird undamaged and are spread with the bird droppings.

The tree has got the english name “Buddhist Pine” because the seeds resemble Buddhist monks in red cloaks.

The Buddhist pine is a popular garden tree in both Japan and the southern United States. It is considered a “Feng Shui tree” in Hong Kong which has made it very valuable and led to repeated thefts of these trees around in the city.

Facts:

• Greenhouse location: The Mountain Forest House
• Danish name: Stornålet sydtaks
• Latin name: Podocarpus macrophyllus
• Family: Yellowwood family / Podocarpaceae
• Natural habitat: Southern Japan and Southeastern China

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