Plant · GBIF taxon 5285930
kusamaki
Podocarpus macrophyllusAlso known as Yew Plum Pine, Buddhist Pine, Fern Pine, Japanese Yew
Kusamaki is a classic evergreen conifer prized across East Asia for its dense, deep-green foliage and elegant growth habit. Female trees produce distinctive autumn seed cones featuring a hard green seed resting atop a fleshy, swollen red-to-purple base. Widely cultivated around temples, traditional Japanese gardens, and urban spaces, it serves as a favored subject for cloud pruning and bonsai art.
EvergreenConiferOrnamental
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Scale Insects
- Spider Mites
- Birds
ThreatsHabitat clearance in native areas, local wild collection for horticulture
HabitatsSubtropical forests, coastal thickets, urban gardens, temple grounds
Life span100–500+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPinales
- FamilyPodocarpaceae
- GenusPodocarpus
- SpeciesPodocarpus macrophyllus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Seeds and leaves contain toxic compounds; wild fruits have toxic look-alikes, so never eat based on app identification alone.
- Why it is dangerous
- Seeds and foliage contain podocarpic acid, which causes digestive upset, nausea, and severe discomfort if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by long strap-like evergreen leaves and fleshy autumn seed cones with a green seed perched on a purple-red receptacle.
- What to do
- Observe foliage and seed structures without chewing or ingesting any plant parts, and keep fallen seeds away from pets.
Responsible observation
- Foliage check: Look for spirally arranged, ribbon-like needles that feel thick and leathery to the touch.
- Fruit observation: Inspect female branches in late autumn for the two-toned seed cones elevated on fleshy red stalks.
Look-Alike (c) Alpsdake, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Aaron Liston, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Aaron Liston · cc-by
Southern Relative (c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jon Sullivan · cc-by
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