Podocarpus costalis Podocarpus crassigemmis Podocarpus tixieri section Rumphius (Hainan, south through Malesia to northern Queensland) Podocarpus grayae (aka P. grayii and P. grayi) Podocarpus laubenfelsii Podocarpus rumphii section Polystachyus (southern China and Japan, through Malaya to New Guinea and northeast Australia) Podocarpus chinensis Podocarpus chingianus Podocarpus elatus Podocarpus fasciculus Podocarpus macrocarpus Podocarpus macrophyllus Podocarpus polystachyus Podocarpus ridleyi Podocarpus subtropicalis section Spinulosus (southeast and southwest coasts of Australia) Podocarpus drouynianus Podocarpus spinulosus Allergenic potential Male Podocarpus spp. are extremely allergenic, and have an OPALS allergy-scale rating of 10 out of 10. Conversely, completely female Podocarpus plants have an OPALS rating of 1, and are considered "allergy-fighting", as they capture pollen while producing none. Podocarpus is related to yews, and as with yews, the stems, leaves, flowers, and pollen of Podocarpus are all poisonous. Additionally, the leaves, stems, bark, and pollen are cytotoxic. The male Podocarpus blooms and releases this cytotoxic pollen in the spring and early summer. Heavy exposure to the pollen, such as with a male Podocarpus planted near a bedroom window, can produce symptoms that mimic the cytotoxic side effects of chemotherapy. Uses The earliest use of P. elongatus dates back to the southern African Middle Stone Age where it was used to produce an adhesive by distillation. Today, several species of Podocarpus are grown as garden trees, or trained into hedges, espaliers, or screens. Podocarpus trees (misspelled as "protocarpus") were used on Isla Nublar, Costa Rica, to conceal electric fences from visitors. Common garden species used for their attractive deep-green foliage and neat habits include P. macrophyllus, known commonly as Buddhist pine, fern pine, or kusamaki, P. salignus from Chile, and P. nivalis, a smaller, red-fleshy-coned shrub. Some members of the genera Nageia, Prumnopitys, and Afrocarpus are marketed under the genus name Podocarpus. The red, purple, or bluish fleshy cone (popularly called a "fruit") of most species of Podocarpus are edible, raw or cooked into jams or pies. They have a mucilaginous texture with a slightly sweet flavor. They are slightly toxic, so should be eaten only in small amounts, especially when raw. Some species of Podocarpus are used in systems of traditional medicine for conditions such as fevers, coughs, arthritis, sexually transmitted diseases, and canine distemper. A chemotherapy drug used in treatment of leukemia is made from Podocarpus. References Further reading de Laubenfels, D. J. (1985). A taxonomic revision of the genus Podocarpus. Blumea 30(2), 251-78. Farjon,