Podocarpus neriifolius fruit
Also called Brown PinePodocarpus neriifolius · Podocarpaceae family
A conifer food-use record whose fleshy seed support must not be confused with a botanical fruit.
Find it near DetroitGet to know it
Podocarpus neriifolius carries a seed on top of a fleshy, reddish stalk, giving it the look of a tiny fruit wearing a hat. It belongs to an evergreen conifer: the seed sits exposed above the swollen base.
What it is
The fleshy base is called a receptacle, meaning the support beneath the seed. It measures 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) long; the oval seed above is 1 to 1.5 cm (0.4 to 0.6 in) long. That exposed seed is the key to its structure: it is never enclosed inside fruit flesh.
Brown pine and mountain teak are common names for the tree. Its foliage stays green, with glossy leaves, while the bark peels in long strips.
Where it comes from
The tree grows from Nepal and India through mainland Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago. It lives in primary rainforest, including rocky hilltops and places beside rivers. Names along that range include jati bukit in Malaysia and mala adelfa in the Philippines.
Its wood goes into furniture and cabinet work.
How it's grown
Male and female cones grow on separate trees. Male cones supply pollen, carried by the wind; female cones carry the seeds on their swelling stalks. The tree grows in full sun and can be raised from seeds or pieces of stem rooted as cuttings.
When and where you'll find it
A named tree to see is Singapore Botanic Gardens’ heritage specimen HT 2012-201, on Lawn B near Swan Lake and Main Gate Road. It stands 16.4 m (54 ft) tall. This tree remains from the conifer collection that once dominated part of the gardens’ Tanglin Core.
Get it near Detroit
What it tastes like
How to buy it
1EatThe fleshy part beneath the seed is a separate structure (the receptacle), distinct from the seed itself
The fleshy part beneath the seed is a separate structure (the receptacle), distinct from the seed itself.
Detroit, Michigan
When it’s good hereUsual monthsJust arrivedAt their bestLast chanceAll yearWhere it is in its usual monthsToday, Oct 22Grown hereIn season in your stateShips fromIn season where it grows
17 names in 6 languages
Sources
Sources
Podocarpus neriifolius fruit · Fruitopia · checked Sep 22, 2026
What we don't know yet
The heritage-tree route is for observation, not for collecting or eating the fruit.