Distributed in the Philippines and Taiwan where it is restricted to as few as five localities; it is in decline because of plants being taken from the wild for horticultural use
Distribution
Philippines and Taiwan: found mainly in Lanyu Island, Taiwan, and the Batan Islands in the Luzon Strait. The type collection was gathered from Luzon in the Philippines.
The total population is suspected to be decreasing due to over collecting for the horticultural trade.
Habitat and Ecology
Podocarpus costalis occurs on islands in lowland evergreen scrub to low forest on karst limestone bluffs and ridges or sea-stacks, from near sea level to at least 300 metres above sea-level. It may be native in similar habitat on the northern coast of Luzon
Human Uses
This attractive, shrubby dwarf tree is popular in cultivation for gardens in the Philippines and in Taiwan, where it has been confused with P. polystachyus. Podocarpus costalis is also used in bonsai culture
Conservation Status
Global status
Endangered B2ab(v)
Global rationale
The area of occupancy (ca 24km²) is well within the threshold for Endangered and the continuing removal of mature individuals for horticulture and/or pot plants is depleting the population.
Global threats
Podocarpus costalis has a very limited distribution in fewer than five localities (islands) and is restricted to a specific habitat. It is in decline because plants are taken from the wild to be planted in gardens in Luzon and Taiwan, and possibly elsewhere. It was listed on Appendix I of CITES in 1975, but deleted from the Appendices in 1990.
Conservation Actions
This species is legally protected in the Philippines and Taiwan: collecting from the wild is illegal. Attempts should be made to grow this species from seed or scions in order to minimize the taking of plants from habitat.
References and further reading
AFP. (2009). Smuggling of century-old trees foiled in Laguna. ABS-CBNnews.com.
Carter, G. & Farjon, A. 2013. Podocarpus costalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 September 2015
de Laubenfels, D.J. (1978). The taxonomy of Philippine Coniferae and Taxaceae. Kalikasan 7(2): 117-152.
Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Fernando, E.S., Co, L.L., Lagunzad, D.A., Gruezo, W.S., Barcelona, J.F., Madulid, D.A., Lapis, A.B., Texon, G.I., Manila, A.C.& Zamora, P.M. (2008). Threatened Plants of the Philippines: A Preliminary Assessment. Available at: http://www.chm.ph/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=9&Itemid=59. (Accessed: 4 May 2011).
Huang, T.C. (ed.) (1994). Flora of Taiwan. Second edition. Editorial Committee of the Flora of Taiwan. Taipei.
Lu, S.Y. & Pan, F.J. (1996). Rare and Endangered Plants in Taiwan I.
