Podocarpus elatus, the plum pine, the brown pine, the Illawarra plum or the Queensland Christmas tree, is a species of conifer in the family Podocarpaceae, endemic to the east coast of Australia, in eastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland.
It is a medium to large tree growing to 30–36 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter. The leaves are lanceolate, 5–15 cm long (to 25 cm long on vigorous young trees) and 6–18 mm broad. The seed cones are dark blue-purple, berry-like, with a fleshy base 2-2.5 cm diameter bearing a single oval or globose seed 1 cm in diameter.
Uses The fleshy part of the seed cone is edible, used in condiments. The timber was prized for furniture, joinery, boat planking, lining and piles in salt water. Podocarpus elatus is an attractive ornamental tree. In older Australian suburbs, the plum pine is used as an ornamental street tree, such as at Baldry Street, Chatswood.Willoughby City Council, Urban Tree Management Policy, Volume 3, Street Tree Master Plan. June 2014. page 66
The fruit has been used as a suitable alternative to sloe berries in the production of sloe-style gins in Australia.
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References
ANU Forestry Illawarra plum - Podocarpus elatus Bruneteau, Jean-Paul, Tukka, Real Australian Food, . Dallimore, W., & Jackson, A. B. (1966). Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae. Arnold. Gymnosperm Database: Podocarpus elatus Low, Tim, Wild Food Plants of Australia, . Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989,