Agathis robusta

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Agathis robusta
Agathis robusta2.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. robusta
Binomial name
Agathis robusta
Subspecies [4]
Agathis-robusta-distribution-map.png
Synonyms [4]

Dammara robustaC.Moore ex F.Muell. (1860)

Agathis robusta, commonly known as Dundathu pine, kauri pine, Queensland kauri (pine), Australian kauri (pine) or smooth-barked kauri, is a coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae. Although sometimes called a pine it is not a true pine, having leaves rather than needles. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in eastern New Guinea and New Britain in Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia.

Contents

Description

Agathis robusta is a large evergreen tree with a straight cylindrical trunk which can often reach a height of 30–40 m (98–131 ft), and occasionally 50 m (160 ft). [5] [6] [7] The trunk is usually around 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) diameter at breast height (DBH), but occasionally may reach 3 m (9.8 ft). [5] The bark is orange-brown to grey-brown, smooth, but shedding in large flakes. [6] [7] [8] [9]

The linear-elliptic leaves are up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long and 4 cm (1.6 in) wide, [6] [7] [8] with numerous fine parallel veins and no midrib. [7] [8] They are carried on petioles measuring 3 to 10 mm (0.12 to 0.39 in) and are arranged in opposite pairs (rarely whorls of three) on the stem. [6] [7] [8]

The globose, green seed cones measure 8–13 cm (3.1–5.1 in) diameter with up to 440 scales, and mature in 18–20 months after pollination. [6] [7] [8] They disintegrate at maturity to release the seeds. The male (pollen) cones are cylindrical, 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) long and 9 mm (0.35 in) diameter. [6] [7] [8]

Taxonomy

The Queensland kauri was first described as Dammara robusta in 1859 by the German-born Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller and published in the journal Quarterly Journal and Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria. In 1883 the Colonial Botanist of Queensland Frederick Manson Bailey published a paper in which he gave the species its current binomial name Agathis robusta. [3] [4]

Subspecies

There are two recognised subspecies as of January 2023, namely:

Etymology

The genus name Agathis is from the Ancient Greek word ἀγαθίς, "ball of thread", a reference to the appearance of the female cones (seed cones). [5] [9] The species epithet is derived from the Latin word rōbustus meaning "robust". [9]

Distribution and habitat

Agathis robusta occurs in three distinct locations — a southern population in southeast Queensland in the regions around Gympie, Maryborough, and K'gari (Fraser Island); another population in northeast Queensland in the regions from Ingham to Cooktown, including the Atherton Tablelands; and the third in New Guinea. [5] [12] The north Queensland population was formerly recognised as Agathis palmerstonii, but is now considered to be synonymous with the southern grouping. [13]

The species grows in rainforest on well-drained soils of various types, at elevations up to 1,100 m (3,600 ft) and where the rainfall is between 1,100 and 1,500 mm (43 and 59 in). [5] [8]

Ecology

The cones of the Queensland kauri are eaten by sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita). [9]

Conservation

Agathis robusta is listed by both the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the IUCN as least concern. However, the IUCN assessment states that the "subspecies in Papua New Guinea has been assessed as Vulnerable" due to ongoing, albeit limited, logging. [1] [2]

Pests and diseases

A number of Lepidoptera species utilise the Queensland kauri as a host plant, including Agathiphaga queenslandensis , Heteropsyche poecilochroma , Leipoxais rufobrunnea , Darna nararia , Orgyia australis , Achaea janata , and Lexias dirtea . [14]

Uses

This tree produces a high quality timber which was used for a variety of purposes such as cabinetmaking, joinery, framing, and plywood. This led to it being heavily logged from the mid-19th century, with the result that the large stands of these trees which were once common are now gone, although many individual trees may still be found. Logging in north Queensland continued until the establishment of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage area in 1987. [8] [5]

State-owned plantations of kauri were established in both north and south Queensland in the first half of the 20th century and met with varying degrees of success; however, today little more than 100 ha (250 acres) of plantation kauri exists. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Araucariaceae</span> Family of plants

Araucariaceae – also known as araucarians – is a family of coniferous trees, with three living genera, Araucaria, Agathis, and Wollemia. While the family was distributed globally during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, in their native distribution they are now largely confined to the Southern Hemisphere, except for a few species of Agathis in Southeast Asia.

<i>Wollemia</i> Genus of conifers

Wollemia is a genus of coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae, endemic to Australia. It represents only one of three living genera in the family, alongside Araucaria and Agathis. The genus only has a single known species, Wollemia nobilis, which was discovered in 1994 in a temperate rainforest wilderness area of the Wollemi National Park in New South Wales. It was growing in a remote series of narrow, steep-sided, sandstone gorges 150 km (93 mi) north-west of Sydney. The genus is named after the National Park.

<i>Araucaria</i> Genus of evergreen conifers in the family Araucariaceae

Araucaria is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae. While today they are largely confined to the Southern Hemisphere, during the Jurassic and Cretaceous they were distributed globally. There are 20 extant species in New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, eastern Australia, New Guinea, Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

<i>Agathis</i> Genus of conifers in the kauri family Araucariaceae

Agathis, commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees, native to Australasia and Southeast Asia. It is one of three extant genera in the family Araucariaceae, alongside Wollemia and Araucaria. Its leaves are much broader than most conifers. Kauri gum is commercially harvested from New Zealand kauri.

<i>Araucaria bidwillii</i> Species of tree in the family Araucariaceae

Araucaria bidwillii, commonly known as the bunya pine (, or bunya-bunya, is a large evergreen coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae which is endemic to Australia. Its natural range is southeast Queensland with two very small, disjunct populations in northeast Queensland's World Heritage listed Wet Tropics. There are many planted specimens on the Atherton Tableland, in New South Wales, and around the Perth metropolitan area, and it has also been widely planted in other parts of the world. They are very tall trees – the tallest living individual is in Bunya Mountains National Park and was reported by Robert Van Pelt in January 2003 to be 51.5 m in height.

<i>Athertonia</i> Monotypic genus of trees in the family Proteaceae

Athertonia is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Proteaceae. The sole described species is Athertonia diversifolia, commonly known as Atherton oak, athertonia, creamy silky oak or white oak. It is endemic to a small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. A relative of the macadamia, it has potential in horticulture and the bushfood industry.

<i>Agathis macrophylla</i> Species of conifer

Agathis macrophylla known as Pacific kauri, is a coniferous tree native to the islands of the southwestern Pacific Ocean in tropical humid lowlands and lower montane regions, notably in Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Santa Cruz Islands. The Pacific kauri is one of the largest and fastest growing species in its genus, and is important in forestry.

<i>Agathis orbicula</i> Species of conifer

Agathis orbicula is a coniferous tree native to the island of Borneo. It is found scattered throughout tropical rainforests and Kerangas forests. It is commonly found on hills and plateaus. The species is facing a high risk of extinction due to its scattered distribution and the decline in quality of its habitat.

<i>Agathis atropurpurea</i> Species of conifer in the family Araucariaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia

Agathis atropurpurea, commonly known as the blue kauri, and occasionally as the black kauri or purple kauri, is a species of conifer in the very ancient plant family Araucariaceae. The family was distributed almost worldwide during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, but is now mostly confined to the Southern Hemisphere. This species is endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland, Australia.

<i>Agathis microstachya</i> Species of tree in the family Araucariaceae

Agathis microstachya, the bull kauri, is a species of conifer in the family Araucariaceae, endemic to Australia. It was described in 1918 by John Frederick Bailey and Cyril Tenison White. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Agathis moorei</i> Species of conifer

Agathis moorei is a species of tree, endemic to New Caledonia. It occurs scattered throughout the main island in subtropical rainforest at altitudes of 250 metres (800 ft) to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Agathis ovata</i> Species of conifer

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

Agathis robusta subsp. nesophila, the New Guinea kauri, is a subspecies of conifer native to the highlands of Papua New Guinea. It grows in the Eastern Highlands and Owen Stanley Range of eastern New Guinea and the highlands of New Britain at elevations of 900–1980 m. Although long known, it has only relatively recently (1980) been described as a subspecies of Agathis robusta. It is also known by the synonym Agathis spathulata. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Normanbya</i> Monotypic genus of palm endemic to Queensland

Normanbya is a monotypic genus of palms containing the single species Normanbya normanbyi, which is known by the common name black palm It is endemic to Queensland, Australia and is threatened by habitat destruction.

<i>Agathis borneensis</i> Species of conifer

Agathis borneensis, also known as Borneo kauri, is a species of conifer in the family Araucariaceae.

<i>Buckinghamia celsissima</i> Species of plant in the family Proteaceae

Buckinghamia celsissima, commonly known as the ivory curl tree, ivory curl flower or spotted silky oak, is a species of tree in the family Proteaceae. It is endemic to the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.

<i>Xanthophyllum octandrum</i> Species of tree in the family Polygalaceae

Xanthophyllum octandrum, commonly known as Macintyre's boxwood, false jitta, yellow boxwood or sovereignwood, is a slow-growing tree in the milkwort family Polygalaceae which has the potential to reach thousands of years of age. It is endemic to coastal northeastern Queensland, Australia.

<i>Alstonia muelleriana</i> Species of plant in the family Apocynaceae

Alstonia muelleriana is a tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae which is native to southern Papua New Guinea and northeastern Queensland.

<i>Pandanus solms-laubachii</i> Species of plant in the family Pandanaceae

Pandanus solms-laubachii, commonly known as the swamp pandan, is a small tree in the family Pandanaceae which occurs in northeastern Queensland and possibly in Papua New Guinea. It is closely related to both Pandanus gemmifer and Pandanus grayorum.

<i>Sterculia shillinglawii</i> Species of plant in the family Malvaceae

Sterculia shillinglawii, commonly known as tulip sterculia or lacewood, is a tree in the family Malvaceae which is native to Papuasia and northeastern Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 "Species profile—Agathis robusta". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 Farjon, A. (2013). "Agathis robusta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T16437966A2960124. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T16437966A2960124.en . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Agathis robusta". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Agathis robusta C.Moore ex F.Muell". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Araucariaceae in Queensland" (PDF). Woodworks Museum & Interpretive Centre. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hill, K.D. (2020). "Agathis robusta". Flora of Australia . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Earle, C.J. "Agathis robusta (Kauri pine) description". The Gymnosperm Databse. C.J.Earle. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Agathis robusta". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 4. ISBN   9780958174213.
  10. ↑ de Laubenfels, D. J. (1988). Coniferales. In van Steenis & de Wilde (eds.), Flora Malesiana 10: 337-453.
  11. ↑ "Agathis robusta subsp. nesophila Whitmore". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "Search: species: Agathis robusta | Occurrence records | The Australasian Virtual Herbarium". Australasian Virtual Herbarium . Australian Government . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  13. ↑ Whitmore, T. C. (1980). A monograph of Agathis. Pl. Syst. Evol. 135: 41-69.
  14. ↑ "HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants". Natural History Museum . The Natural History Museum, London. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
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