Podocarpus aristulatus facts for kids

Podocarpus aristulatus is a type of evergreen tree. It belongs to the conifer family, which includes trees like pines and firs. You can find this tree growing on the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola (where Haiti and the Dominican Republic are) and Cuba.

What the Tree Looks Like

Podocarpus aristulatus trees can grow quite tall. They usually reach about 10 to 20 meters high. That's like a building with three to six floors!

Their leaves are shaped like long ovals or thin lines. Each leaf is about 2 to 4 centimeters long and 5 to 8 millimeters wide. They grow in a spiral pattern around the branches.

The seed cones of this tree look like berries. They have a soft, red, fleshy part. At the very top, there is usually one seed, but sometimes there can be two. These seeds are about 7 to 10 millimeters long.

How People Use This Tree

In the mountains of the central Dominican Republic, this tree is called "palo de cruz." This means "wood of the cross." People use its wood because it is very strong and lasts a long time. They make things like handles for axes and tools for grinding food, called pestles.

The leaves of Podocarpus aristulatus are also used. People make special teas from them for traditional medicine.

Some people in the area have a special belief about this tree. They place small pieces of its wood above the door frames inside their homes. They believe this helps to protect their homes and keep bad things away.

See also

In Spanish: Podocarpus aristulatus para niños