Podocarpus laetus

Podocarpus laetus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnosperms
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Araucariales
Family: Podocarpaceae
Genus: Podocarpus
Species:
P. laetus
Binomial name
Podocarpus laetus
Hooibr. ex Endl.
Synonyms
  • Nageia hallii (Kirk) Kuntze
  • Nageia laeta (Hooibr. ex Endl.) Kuntze
  • Podocarpus cunninghamii Colenso
  • Podocarpus hallii Kirk
  • Podocarpus totara var. hallii (Kirk) Pilg.

Podocarpus laetus, Hall's tōtara, mountain tōtara or thin-barked tōtara, is a species of conifer in the family Podocarpaceae. Previously known as Podocarpus hallii and Podocarpus cunninghamii, in 2015 it was realised that the much earlier name P. laetus has priority. Its common name results from the species being named after J. W. Hall, a New Zealand pharmacist.

It is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found growing in both montane and subalpine forests but less common in lowland forests.

Hall's tōtara, Hinewai, New Zealand
Hall's tōtara foliage
Hall's tōtara bark is thin and flaky compared to that of P. tōtara

P. laetus is distinguished from the more widely known lowland tōtara by its thinner bark, longer juvenile leaves and distribution at higher altitudes.

P. laetus plays host to the endemic insects Ambeodontus tristis and Oemona hirta.

References

  1. ↑ Farjon, A.; Carter, G. (2013). "Podocarpus laetus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013 e.T42498A2983081. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42498A2983081.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Podocarpus laetus Hooibr. ex Endl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Eagle, Audrey (2008). Eagle's complete trees and shrubs of New Zealand volume one. Wellington: Te Papa Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-909010-08-9.
  4. ↑ "www.conifers.org".
  5. ↑ Molloy, Brian (2015). "Brian Molloy, 'The correct name for the New Zealand endemic conifer Hall's totara (Araucariales: Podocarpaceae)'. Phytotaxa 220(2)". Phytotaxa. 220 (2): 101. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.220.2.1.
  6. ↑ "Hall's tōtara". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Podocarpus cunningham (Hall's totara)". Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "TOTARA". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  9. ↑ Sopow, Stephanie L.; Bain, John (2017). "A checklist of New Zealand Cerambycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera), excluding Lamiinae". New Zealand Entomologist. 40 (2): 5, 12. doi:10.1080/00779962.2017.1357423. ISSN 0077-9962. Retrieved 26 June 2025.