| Podocarpus
lawrencii (Plum Pine) is a native shrub that grows in many
relatively well watered parts of Tasmania (and also extends to
south-eastern Australian. It is fire sensitive and only grows in
relatively fire-free areas. It is slow growing and may live for many
hundreds of years. It mostly grows in alpine and subalpine areas,
but occasionally extends to low altitudes along rivers. It is most
commonly seen sprawling across boulder fields. The adult leaves are
flattened, single veined and spirally arranged around the stem
(although often twisted so that they all lie in one plane). The leaves
are 6-12 mm long. The female cones comprise one seed sitting on an
enlarged, bright red, fleshy base.
It cannot be confused with any other Tasmanian conifer, and the
pine-smell of the crushed leaves will distinguish it from any
flowering plant.
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