''Agathis spathulata'', the New Guinea kauri, is a species of ''

Agathis ''Agathis'', commonly known as kauri or dammara, is a genus of 22 species of evergreen tree. The genus is part of the ancient conifer family Araucariaceae, a group once widespread during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, but now largely re ...

'' native to the highlands of eastern Papua New Guinea, occurring at altitudes of 900–1980 m. Although long known, it has only relatively recently (1980) been distinguished from '' Agathis robusta'', being described first as a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of it, ''Agathis robusta'' subsp. ''nesophila'' Whitm., and subsequently separated as a distinct species ''Agathis spathulata'' in 1988. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is a large evergreen tree growing up to 60 m tall. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are in decussate opposite pairs, 7–10 cm long and 18–30 mm broad on mature trees, up to 13 cm long and 45 mm broad on young trees. The cones are oval, 8.5–10 cm long and 6.5-7.5 cm diameter, and disintegrate at maturity to release the winged seeds.

References

*de Laubenfels, D. J. (1988). Coniferales. In van Steenis & de Wilde (eds.), ''Flora Malesiana'' 10: 337–453. * spathulata Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{conifer-stub