Prumnopitys andina was renamed Prumnopitys spicata (Poepp.) Molloy & Muñoz-Schick in 1999 (Molloy, B.P.J. and Muñoz-Schick, M. 1999. The correct name for the Chilean conifer Lleuque (Podocarpaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 37(2): 189-193). The name Prumnopitys andina was reinstated in 2001 (Mill, R.R. and Quinn, C.J. 2001. Prumnopitys andina reinstated as the correct name for Lleuque, the Chilean conifer recently renamed P. spicata (Podocarpaceae). Taxon 50(4): 1143-1154.).

Common Name: Plum-Fruited Yew

General Information

Prumnopitys andina is an evergreen tree with a conical crown when young, becoming more globose with age; it can grow up to 21 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 100cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and sometimes also for its wood. The bark has potential for use as an antifungal. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be trimmed and used as a hedge.
Prumnopitys andina is threatened by a lack of regeneration in a number of subpopulations due to livestock eating the fleshy cones; this is further exacerbated by the delayed germination of this species at 'fruit-fall' . Grazing of seedlings and small plants is also a problem. In the Alto Biobío one subpopulation has been severely reduced by the damming of the Río Biobío for a hydroelectric scheme. Afforestation with exotic pines in the only location in the Coastal Cordillera has in the last 15 years reduced the subpopulation by 50% to an area of less than 500 m² (Hechenleitner et al. 2005): this subpopulation is also suffering from livestock grazing. Volcanic activity and lava flows in Parque National Conguillo has fragmented the subpopulation: Volcan Llaima remains one of Chile's most active volcanoes. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

S. America - central and southern Chile

Habitat

Humid woods between the coast and the hills[], between latitudes 36 and 40°south[]. Valley bottoms, close to large rivers in the Andes, and in remnant forest on the Coastal Cordillera; at elevations from 200 - 1,380 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Based on data from 24 collection localities, the climate preferences of Prumnopitys andina include a mean annual temperature of 9°c, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 0°c, and a mean annual precipitation of 1,670mm. Plants are moderately cold hardy, able to withstand occasional temperatures falling to between -12.1°c and -6.7°c[].
Thrives in any good soil, including chalk[, ]. Requires a sheltered position[].
A very ornamental plant[], but it is in general very slow growing in Britain[, ], though slightly faster in the south-west[].
Plants are usually dioecious though monoecious forms are known. Male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruit are required.
The fruits are fragrant[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. Aromatic with a taste like the sweetwater grape[, ]. The fruit is up to 20mm long and 15mm wide, it contains one seed[]. The 'fruit' is actually a swollen stalk[].

Seed[, ]. No more details are given.

Medicinal

The species may well have medicinal properties as the bark has been detected to have anti-fungal properties[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is very tolerant of trimming and can be grown as a hedge[, , ].

Other Uses

Wood. Used to make furniture[].
Although the wood is of value and was traditionally used for house building, there is little evidence that the wood is widely used today[].
Actively being exploited, primarily for the woodchip industry[].

Propagation

Seed - it can be sown at any time of the year in a sandy soil in a greenhouse[]. It can take 18 months to germinate[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Easy[].
Cuttings of ripe wood with a heel in late summer.