Callitris baileyi
Bailey's Cypress-pine
Bailey's Cypress-pine
Pollen cones
Seed cones
Seed cones
Seed cones
Wikipedia links: Gymnosperms > Cupressales > Cupressaceae > Callitris baileyi
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Common name: Bailey's cypress-pine
Conservation status: Endangered
Over the past few decades the conifer has been severely threatened by habitat loss
Recent conservation efforts have been made by the NSW state legislation to list the species as Endangered, while in the state of Queensland, Australia has it listed as Near Threatened
The Callitris baileyi has been recorded in several national parks such as the Bunya Mountains National Park in Queensland and Koreelah National Park in NSW
Over the years the population of Callitris baileyi has been in decline to the point of Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1) status
This has largely been due to inappropriate fire regimes, which is the act of frequent low-intensity burning to reduce fuel loads
This method is used to promote grass growth for cattle grazing or agriculture, which over time prevents regeneration and can lead to the elimination of the species subpopulations
This type of fragmentation of the species is becoming more prevalent outside of national parks
Another factor into the species habitat decline is the invasion by alien invasive weeds in a limited part of its range is inferred. Alien invasive weeds such as Lantana camara are a problem in some parts of its range in Queensland
Etymology:
The name ‘callitris’ is derived from the Greek calli (meaning beautiful) and treis (meaning three), because their scale-like leaves are in whorls of three
The name is dedicated to Australian botanist Frederick Manson Bailey, who was the first to collect specimens of this tree
Bailey's name is closely associated with much of the flora of Queensland and their elucidation in Southeastern Queensland
Cones and seed:
Fruiting for the species has been recorded year-round
Cones form on slender fruiting branchlets that are solitary from one another
Both the male and female cones form on the same tree
With the male cones appearing on the end of branchlets at a size of 2-3mm long
While the female cones form on a branchlet that have a waxy, greyish-blue coloring during its development
The female cone is oblong in shape and measure a size of 10-13mm in diameter
The cones are covered in scales that alternate and are short and narrow.[3] The central stalk of the cone is short, narrow at the base and slightly angled
The seeds that get produced are few in number, with only two unequal wings
Leaves:
The adult leaves are green with an average size of 25 mm long
They have an arrangement of groups of three leaves that run parallel with the stem
While the branchlets have an appearance of being grooved due to the base of the leaves running down the stem as a wing
Stem & branches:
Rough greyish looking bark
Roots:
Habit:
It is a slender tree growing to a height of 18m
It is a terrestrial plant system, that grows on rocky slopes, hilly or mountainous areas, in shallow and often clay soils
It is found in eucalypt woodland, commonly associated with Ironbark, Blue Gum and Spotted Gum trees
Compared to the New South Wales sub-population that emerges in open grassy eucalypt forest near creeks
Habitat:
Distribution:
It is found only in Australia, more specifically Southeast Queensland
It is found in Southeast Queensland, Australia sporadically
With more than ten known locations ranging from places like the state border of Southeast Queensland, to Goomeri in northern Australia, and as far west as the Bunya Mountains range
However, there has been some smaller patches of subpopulations found in private lands such as the Koreelah National Park which is west of Woodenbong
These subpopulations have been severely fragmented due to widespread habitat fragmentation throughout its range
It was once found in Acacia Creek and Sandilands near Tabulam in NSW, however, now it ceases to occupy that area
The extent of occurrence between 15,000 and 25,000 km2
Additional notes:
Sources of information: