About Podocarpus latifolius (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb.
Podocarpus latifolius (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. is commonly known by the common names real yellowwood, broad-leaved yellowwood, or South African yellowwood. Its local names are Opregte-geelhout in Afrikaans, Mogôbagôba in Northern Sotho, Umcheya in Xhosa, and Umkhoba in Zulu. It is a large evergreen tree in the conifer family Podocarpaceae, growing up to 35 m tall with a trunk up to 3 m in diameter. It is the type species of the genus Podocarpus. This tree has been declared the national tree of South Africa and is protected within the country. It is native to the moister southern and eastern regions of South Africa, ranging from the coastal areas of the Western Cape east to KwaZulu-Natal, and north to eastern Limpopo. Small isolated natural populations also occur further north, in and around Zimbabwe. It grows commonly in afro-temperate forests, and is often found in mountainous areas. In harsh or exposed locations, it tends to grow as a stunted, small, dense plant. Ecologically, Podocarpus latifolius is the preferred phorophyte species for Solenangis conica, an epiphytic orchid.
