Afrocarpus mannii 18547
Author: (Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911)) Christopher Nigel Page (1942-)Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Afrocarpus
Synonym(s): Podocarpus mannii
English name: São Tomé pine
Zone: South Africa
Description
This species is from São Tomé and Príncipe. It is endemic on the volcano Pico de São Tomé at elevations from circa 1550m to the summit at 2142m. The habitat is high montane cloud forest. The epithet mannii remembers George Mann, who collected the type specimen.

Afrocarpus mannii Observed in Sao Tome and Principe by Luis Silva (license)
Botanical Description
It is a tree to 15m tall but krummholz in the summit area, with a broad crown. The bark is undescribed. The twigs are ridged, more or less quadrangular.
The foliage is sparse. The juvenile leaves are spirally arranged, linear-lanceolate, up to 16cm long x 4-8mm, finely pointed. The adult leaves are also spirally arranged, lanceolate, 3-8cm x 3-7mm, with a conspicuous midrib on the lower side and an obscure midrib on the upper side. The apex is acute to obtuse.
The pollen cones are solitary, catkin-like, 10-20mm x2-3mm, microsporophylls are broadly triangular, 1mm across, each with two pollen sacs.
The seed cones are on small scaly twigs axillary to foliage leaves, with a 20-30mm long fleshy pear-shaped epimatium enclosing a single obovoid seed 16-25mm long with a 4-5mm thick, hard seed coat.
The foliage is sparse. The juvenile leaves are spirally arranged, linear-lanceolate, up to 16cm long x 4-8mm, finely pointed. The adult leaves are also spirally arranged, lanceolate, 3-8cm x 3-7mm, with a conspicuous midrib on the lower side and an obscure midrib on the upper side. The apex is acute to obtuse.
The pollen cones are solitary, catkin-like, 10-20mm x2-3mm, microsporophylls are broadly triangular, 1mm across, each with two pollen sacs.
The seed cones are on small scaly twigs axillary to foliage leaves, with a 20-30mm long fleshy pear-shaped epimatium enclosing a single obovoid seed 16-25mm long with a 4-5mm thick, hard seed coat.
Useful plant
This species is used for construction timber, although rarely, as trees of suitable size have become scarce. It has been planted as a canopy tree, windbreak, or for other purposes in rural areas of Cameroon, Ivory Coast and probably elsewhere in West Africa.
References
- A handbook of the world's conifers 1+2, Aljos Farjon. 2010 pag. 141. ISBN
- The Gymnosperm Database. Afrocarpus mannii
- Useful Tropical Plants. Afrocarpus mannii
References
- A handbook of the world's conifers 1+2, Aljos Farjon. 2010 pag. 141. ISBN
- The Gymnosperm Database. Afrocarpus mannii
- Useful Tropical Plants. Afrocarpus mannii
References for the genus
General specifications
Biological type: tree
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
IUCN Red List of threatened species status: Vulnerable
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 32,8ft x 19,6ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: average
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 40%Compost+60%Sand
Plant watering: Sensor pH 6.5 Humid
Logical sequence of containers for: Eucalyptus; forestry plate, forestry pot 3L, Airpot 12L, Airpot 50L, Airpot 800L
Propagation is done by cuttings
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 1800-2400mm
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
IUCN Red List of threatened species status: Vulnerable
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 32,8ft x 19,6ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: average
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 40%Compost+60%Sand
Plant watering: Sensor pH 6.5 Humid
Logical sequence of containers for: Eucalyptus; forestry plate, forestry pot 3L, Airpot 12L, Airpot 50L, Airpot 800L
Propagation is done by cuttings
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 1800-2400mm
Sowing instructions
SPRING Clean to pure seeds. Scarify the seed coating. Sow the seeds at 2mm depth in the Well Drained Seed Sowing Mix between 64-72°F. During germination keep the substrate moist and in daylight. The seeds germinate in 4-26 weeks.
Experiences in the garden
12-08-20A Obtaining 3 plants from nursery Villa Thuret, they are in our nursery Ombr7g 3x C6