About Podocarpus laetus Hooibr. ex Endl.
Podocarpus laetus Hooibr. ex Endl. is a conifer species in the family Podocarpaceae. Its common names are Hall's tōtara, mountain tōtara, and thin-barked tōtara. This species was previously classified under the names Podocarpus hallii and Podocarpus cunninghamii. In 2015, researchers determined that the much older published name P. laetus has taxonomic priority over the later names. Its common name Hall's tōtara comes from the species being named to honor J. W. Hall, a New Zealand pharmacist. Podocarpus laetus is found exclusively in New Zealand. It grows naturally in montane and subalpine forests, and is less common in lowland forests. This species can be distinguished from the more widely known lowland tōtara by its thinner bark, longer juvenile leaves, and its occurrence at higher altitudes. Podocarpus laetus acts as a host plant for two endemic insect species: Ambeodontus tristis and Oemona hirta.
