Agathis ovata

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Agathis ovata
Agathis ovata - Atlanta Botanical Garden.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Araucariales
Family: Araucariaceae
Genus: Agathis
Species:
A. ovata
Binomial name
Agathis ovata
Moore ex Vieill. Warb.

Agathis ovata, the mountain kauri or scrub kauri, is a species of conifer, genus Agathis . It is found only on the southwest Pacific island of New Caledonia. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Contents

Habitat

Agathis ovata is found only in New Caledonia on montane scrubland or in forests, although it requires a high level of rainfall so is generally restricted to between 150 and 1000 metres. Agathis were once found worldwide, although species such as this are now becoming very restricted. Other members of this family, Araucariaceae, include Hoop Pine ( Araucaria cunninghamii ), Queensland Kauri ( Agathis robusta ) and Cook Pine ( Araucaria columnaris ), of which the former two are found in rainforests and the latter in coastal forests of New Caledonia. Although these trees are at no risk, Agathis ovata is at a high risk of extinction from logging of tall forest trees and mining activities which clear its habitat.

Description

It is a medium tree, growing to 25 metres tall with a straight trunk in forests, although on the scrubland where it is more common it is a large shrub or small tree, (looking like a large poodle cut, or huge bonsai) [2] branching from the base upwards with a broad, flat, crown and 1–8 metres tall. The bark has deep fissures, and is normally whitish-tan on the outside and red-brown on the underside.

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Araucaria subulata is a species of conifer in the family Araucariaceae. It is found only in New Caledonia, with scattered populations present across the central and southern mountain regions of the main island Grande Terre, especially on Mont Dzumac and Mont des Sources. It is one of the tallest of New Caledonia's endemic araucaria species, reaching up to 50 meters in height. Young trees, like the one in the picture, show similar growth habits to the Norfolk Island Pine. It is threatened by habitat loss as with all of New Caledonia's araucaria trees, but populations of Araucaria subulata are currently considered to be stable and it was not found to be threatened or endangered when most recently assessed.

References

  1. Amice, R.; Cazé, H.; Dumontet, V.; Fleurot, D.; Garnier, D.; Hequet, V.; Lagrange, A.; Lannuzel, G.; McCoy, S.; Suprin, B.; Veillon, J.-M. (2024). "Agathis ovata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T30980A67749144. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  2. Hogan, Sean (2004). Flora - The Gardener's Bible. Willoughby, New South Wales: Global Book Pub. Pty. Ltd. p. 112 with photo. ISBN   1-74048-097-X.