Agathis robusta
Queensland Kauri
Queensland Kauri
Wikipedia links: Gymnosperms > Cupressales > Araucariaceae > Agathis robusta
Other links:
Common name: Queensland kauri
Also, pine or smooth-barked kauri
Conservation status: Not endangered
Etymology:
Flowers:
Fruit:
The seed cones are globose, 8–13 cm diameter, and mature in 18–20 months after pollination; they disintegrate at maturity to release the seedsThe seed cones are globose, 8–13 cm diameter, and mature in 18–20 months after pollination
They disintegrate at maturity to release the seeds
The male (pollen) cones are cylindrical, 5–10 cm long and 1-1.5 cm thick
Leaves:
The leaves are 5–12 cm long and 2–5 cm broad
Tough and leathery in texture, with no midrib
They are arranged in opposite pairs (rarely whorls of three)
Stem & branches:
Smooth, scaly bark
Roots:
Habit:
It is a large evergreen tree growing straight and tall to a height of 30–50 m
Habitat:
Distribution:
It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Papua New Guinea and Queensland
Populations in Papua New Guinea may be treated as the distinct species Agathis spathulata
In Australia, it occurs in two locations, a southern population on Fraser Island and around Maryborough, and a northern population on the Atherton Tableland west of Cairns
The northern population was formerly distinguished as Agathis palmerstonii, but does not differ from the southern population and is no longer considered distinct
Additional notes:
It was heavily logged in the past, and spectacular trees of prodigious size are much rarer than in pre-European times
Although sometimes called a pine, it is not a true pine, and has leaves, not needles
Sources of information: