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Scientific name: Retrophyllum rospigliosii (Pilger) C.N. Page 1989
Synonyms: Decussocarpus rospigliosii (Pilg.) de Laub., Nageia rospigliosii (Pilg.) de Laub., Podocarpus rospigliosii Pilg., Torreya bogotensis Linden ex K.Koch
Common names: Pino Hayuelo, Diablo Fuerte, Pino Real, Pino Romero, Pino de Monte, Romerillo Fino, Romerillo Rojo, Saucecillo (Spanish)
Description
Tree to 35(-45) m tall, with trunk to 1.2(-2) m in diameter, often free of branches for half to two-thirds of its height. Bark reddish brown, smooth to shaggy, weathering dark gray and peeling in large scales or plates. Crown spreading, becoming rather open with age, with a few large horizontal or rising branches subdividing into many slender branches densely clothed with short shoots. Resting buds loosely constructed of scale leaves. Leaves of both long and short shoots expanded and photosynthetic, (7-)10-20(-23) mm long, (2-)3-5 mm wide (to 6 mm in juveniles), smallest on the most exposed branches of the crown. Blades widest near or before the middle, tapering abruptly to the roundly triangular tip and rounded or roundly wedge-shaped base with just a hint of petiole. Midrib narrow and inconspicuous, with (one to) three (to five) resin canals beneath the midvein and one to three additional ones out to each side. Pollen cones (5-)8-12 mm long and 2.5-3(-3.5) mm wide. Seed cones on a stalk (5-)10-15(-20) mm long bearing two to five alternating pairs of leafy or scaly sterile bracts before the fertile pair, the combined seed coat and epimatium egg-shaped, (20-)25-30 mm long and (12-)15-20 mm in diameter, covered with a thin waxy coating at first and maturing dark red to blue-black.
Discontinuous throughout the northern Andean region from western Venezuela (Trujillo, Mérida, and Táchira), through western Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru to southwestern Brazil (Rondónia). Scattered or forming small groves in primary or secondary rain forests; (250-)1,500-2,400(-3,750) m.
Conservation Status
Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable
Although this timber tree species has relatively a broad distribution in tropical South America it has been under much pressure from logging during the last 50-60 years. There is evidence that many of the formerly quite extensive stands have now either disappeared or been considerably reduced; this is certainly the case in Peru which once contained some of the most important stands of this species. It is estimated that there has been at least 30% global loss within the last three generations (here a generation length of 25-30 years seems to be reasonable for this species). A continuing decline is highly likely but very difficult to quantify. Therefore this species has been assessed as Vulnerable under criterion A2acd.
Although there are no precise figures of the loss of mature individuals, observations strongly suggest a significant decline in this species in recent years. For example, some of the largest stands of this species which occurred in Peru have been severely reduced and it is thought highly likely that there have also been significant losses in other countries. The overall loss in its area of occupancy is estimated as being at least 30%. Furthermore, there is no reason to believe the situation will improve significantly in the future, even though many important stands are protected within national parks; Podocarpus timber is one of the most valuable timbers in the tropical forests of South America and illegal logging is still widespread.
Retrophyllum rospigliosii occurs in montane tropical rainforest with an altitudinal range from 1,500 to 3,300 m but up to 3,750 m in Colombia and Peru where it can occur in cloud forest. It is a very large growing tree up to 30 m tall and can form more or less extensive pure stands on exposed sites, but as a result of deforestation it is more often found as scattered individuals. In Bolivia, where it has been recently discovered it occurs with Graffenrieda cucullata, Clarisia biflora, Elaeagia mariae, Hasseltia floribunda, Hedyosmum angustifolium, Ilex spp., Myrcia paivae, Dictyocaryum lamarckianum, Protium montanum, Nectandra spp., Psychotria spp., Inga spp. (Zenteno-Ruíz 2007).
The main threat is logging for its valuable timber. In Peru Retrophyllum rospigliosii was once quite common at 1,800-2,800 m in the cloud montane forests of Departments of Junín and Pasco (“Selva Central”) in Peru, as well as in other areas. However during the 1960-80s as a result of the widespread availability of chainsaws and improved road systems, logging activities increased which dramatically reduced the natural stands. During this time there were ruthless logging methods employed such as the removal of large areas of trees on steep mountain sides by the use of reinforced cables (C. Reynel pers. comm.). Today it is very rare to see significant stands of this conifer in Peru where it now occurs as scattered trees throughout the areas where it was once dominant. In Colombia it has a national listing of Near Threatened even though it has been exploited for its timber and there are still relatively large stands in some locations (García 2007). In Bolivia, where it has a very restricted distribution it is under threat from agroforestry (M. Gardner pers. obs.). It is unclear what the situation is in Ecuador and Venezuela but because of its valuable timber it is assumed that natural stands have been somewhat reduced.
This species is a valuable timber tree and can yield large sizes of sawn timber. Its wood is of very good quality, straight grained, of medium density, durable and workable. It is much used for construction, carpentry, cabinet making and wood turning.
This species does have protection inside national reserves. In Peru it is thought to be effectively protected in Parque Nacional del Río Abiseo (Dp. San Martín), Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén (Dp. Pasco) and Parque Nacional Manu (Dp. Madre de Dios).
References
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