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Glite Dictionary
Podocarpus latifolius

Podocarpus latifolius

9.9
A tall evergreen tree from Africa with hard, shiny leaves and dark bark
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : podocarpo latifolio
  • The towering Podocarpus latifolius can live for centuries in the mountain forests of South Africa.

Examples

  • The furniture was made from the durable wood of Podocarpus latifolius, valued for its quality and beauty.

  • The Podocarpus latifolius is a popular choice for landscaping.

  • Botanists study the leaf structure of Podocarpus latifolius to better understand its adaptation to local climates.

  • Many gardeners prefer the Podocarpus latifolius for its durability.

  • The furniture was made from the durable wood of Podocarpus latifolius, valued for its quality and beauty.

  • Many gardeners prefer the Podocarpus latifolius for its durability in landscaping.

  • Botanists study the leaf structure of Podocarpus latifolius to better understand its adaptation to local climates.

Synonyms

South African yellowwood
vsPodocarpus latifolius
  • South African
9.4

A tree or shrub from southern Africa with strong yellow wood used for furniture

is the botanical species name focusing on identity not timber value

Surface Forms

Podocarpus latifolius singular
Podocarpus latifoliuses plural

Morphology

Podocarpus + latifolius

This binomial is a literal composition of a genus name plus a Latin species epithet: 'Podocarpus' (an evergreen tree/shrub) + 'latifolius' (literally ‘broad‑leaved’ in Latin). If a learner knows both constituents, they can infer it denotes a Podocarpus with relatively broad leaves, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts and follows regular botanical naming conventions.

Etymology

Podocarpus latifolius may come from old Greek and Latin words: the part podo- means 'foot' and -carpus means 'fruit', because the tree's fruits sit on a small stalk like a little foot. The word latifolius means 'broad leaves', so the full name helps you remember it is a broad-leaved tree often called the 'real yellowwood'.