Halocarpus bidwillii

Description

Halocarpus bidwillii, the bog pine or mountain pine, is a species of conifer in the family Podocarpaceae. It is native to New Zealand and grows from Coromandel to the extreme south; as the latitude increases, it is found at lower altitudes. It is an evergreen shrub favouring both bogs and dry stony ground, seldom growing to more than 3.5 m (11 ft) high. The leaves are scale-like on adult plants, 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long, arranged spirally on the shoots; young seedlings and occasional shoots on older plants have soft strap-like leaves 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) and 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) broad. The seed cones are highly modified, berry-like, with a white aril surrounding the single 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long seed.