Key to Tasmanian Dicots
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Lagarostrobos franklinii (= Dacrydium franklinii; Podocarpaceae) 1:3  

Lagarostrobos franklinii (Huon Pine) is a rainforest tree that grows in western and southern Tasmania. It is very fire sensitive and only grows in fire-free areas. It is slow growing and may live for over 2000 years. It mostly grows at low-moderate altitudes, but occasionally extends into the alpine zone. It is most commonly seen along rivers. Its wood is good for furniture and boat building distribution has decreased due to logging.

Lagarostrobos franklinii is endemic to Tasmania and is the only species in this genus. The adult leaves are scale like, overlapping like tiles and are spirally arranged around the stem. These leafy stems are only about 1-1.5 mm across. Seedlings but have needle-like, spreading leaves several mm long. The female cones are small and elongated (up to 10mm long) with a series of seeds. The branches droop noticeably

This species can only be confused with Phaerosphaera hookeriana. The latter species is alpine-subalpine and does not extend down into the main habitat of Lagarostrobos, has short female cones and no stomata on the outer surface of the leaves.

 

 
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Contact: Greg.Jordan@utas.edu.au