| Callitris
oblonga (Esk pine or South Esk pine) is a small, rare native tree found in the
north-east of Tasmania (and also widely in south-eastern Australia).
Although it will regenerate well after fire, frequent fires will
eliminate it. As a result it is restricted to low-fire parts of this
very fire-prone region. Callitris
species have woody cones and leaves in whorls. The adult
leaves are in whorls of three - these leaves reduced to widely spaced scales and the intervening stems are green and
photosynthetic. Juvenile leaves are needle-like and spreading and
are in whorls of three or four.
The female cones of C. oblonga
are about 20-25 mm long and about 15mm wide. It is less common
than the other member of this genus in Tasmania, C.
rhomboidea, and is similar except that the female cones are
elongated and the foliage is distinctly blue. |
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