''Athrotaxis selaginoides'' is a species of ''

Athrotaxis ''Athrotaxis'' is a genus of two to three species (depending on taxonomic opinion) of conifers in the cypress family, Cupressaceae. The genus is endemic to western Tasmania, where they grow in high altitude temperate rainforests.Farjon, A. (20 ...

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endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

in Australia, where it grows at 400–1,120 m altitude. In its habitat in the mountains, snow in winter is very usual. It is often called King Billy Pine or King William Pine (believed to be in reference to William Lanne an Aboriginal man), although it is not a true

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family (biology), family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanic ...

.Farjon, A. (2005). ''Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys''. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Description

It is an evergreen coniferous tree growing to 20–30 m tall, with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter. The leaves are claw-like, 7–18 mm long and 3–4 mm broad, arranged spirally on the shoots. The seed cones are globose, 15–30 mm diameter, with 20–30 spirally-arranged scales; they are mature about six months after pollination. The pollen cones are 4–5 mm long.

Decline

The main cause of past decline has been fire, with about one third of its habitat burnt in the twentieth century. Like the other two ''Athrotaxis'' species, ''A. selaginoides'' is sensitive to fire. Another cause of past decline has been logging. The overall decline is estimated to be about 40% over the last 200 years. This is within the three generation time limit where one generation is estimated to be at least 100 years. Although 84% of forests are now in protected areas, fires still are a potential hazard. Tasmanian government policy precludes logging of this species in and outside these protected areas.

Cultivation

Examples of the species can be viewed at The Tasmanian Arboretum. Away from its native range, it is occasionally cultivated as an

ornamental tree Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

in northwestern Europe.Mitchell, A. F. (1974). ''A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe''. Collins It succeeds in Scotland where it receives the necessary rainfalls for its good growth and produces fertile seeds there.Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 . Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q944853 Cupressaceae Endemic flora of Tasmania Pinales of Australia Trees of Australia Trees of mild maritime climate Ornamental trees Vulnerable flora of Australia Taxonomy articles created by Polbot