Classification
Class
Pinopsida
Order
Pinales Gorozh.
Family
Podocarpaceae Endl.
Genus
Lepidothamnus Phil.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Lepidothamnus laxifolius (Hook.f.) Quinn, Austral. J. Bot. 30: 316 (1982)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Dacrydium laxifolium Hook.f., J. Bot. 4: 143
Vernacular Name(s):
pigmy pine; Rimu
 Description

Prostrate to sublianoid shrub with branches c. 2–5 mm. diam. towards base, up to 1 m. long or more; branchlets ∞, very slender, flexuous. Lvs polymorphic; of juveniles 5–12 mm. long, subulate to narrow-linear, acute, flat, often curved; later lvs lessening to 2–3 mm. long (often flowering and fruiting in this stage); fully adult lvs 1–2 mm. long, appressed, imbricating, oblong-ovate, obtuse, keeled; branchlets often showing admixture of lf-forms. Plants often monoec.; male strobili solitary, terminal, sessile, up to 8 mm. long; apiculus broadly triangular, acute. Ovule solitary, terminal; receptacle swollen, crimson, succulent, rarely dry; seed 3–5 mm. long, nutlike, oblong-cylindrical, obtuse, with stout, curved apiculus, far exserted beyond epimatium. Aril red.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1 as Dacrydium laxifolium Hook.f.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1845: On the Huon Pine and Microcachrys, a new genus of Coniferæ from Tasmania; together with Remarks upon the Geographical Distribution of the Order in the Southern Hemisphere. Journal of Botany, British and Foreign 4: 137–157.
Quinn, C.J. 1982: Taxonomy of Dacrydium Sol. ex Lamb. emend. de Laub. (Podocarpaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 30: 311–320.