Lagarostrobos
Lagarostrobos | |
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Huon pine in a Tasmanian botanical garden | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Araucariales
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Family: | Podocarpaceae |
Genus: | Lagarostrobos Quinn |
Species: | L. franklinii
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Binomial name | |
Lagarostrobos franklinii (Hook.f.) Quinn
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Lagarostrobos franklinii is a species of
In molecular phylogenetic analyses Lagorostrobos was found to be related to Parasitaxus (a parasitic and monotypic genus from New Caledonia) and Manoao, but their exact relationships are unresolved.[4]
The wood is highly prized for its golden yellow colour, fine grain, and natural oils that resist rotting. The chemical giving the timber its unique smell and preservative qualities is methyl eugenol.
It has been planted in the grounds of Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and has done well. Two healthy specimens can also be found at Torosay Castle, Isle of Mull.[5]
Description
The Huon pine is a slow-growing, but long-lived tree; some living specimens of this tree are in excess of 2,000 years old.
Based on herbarium specimens the extent of occurrence is estimated to be around 13,363 km2 (5,159 sq mi) with an estimated area of occupancy of 13,363 km2 (5,159 sq mi). The actual area of occupancy is estimated to range from 2,500 ha (6,200 acres) (Gibson 1991) to as much as 10,500 ha (26,000 acres) (Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania 2006).[1]
Age
Huon pines are some of the oldest living organisms on the Earth.
A stand of trees in excess of 10,500 years old was found in 1955 in western Tasmania on
Individual trees in the clonal patch have been listed as having ages of 2,000[6][9] or even to 3,000[10][11] years old.
Because of the long life of individual trees, tree rings from Huon Pine have been used for dendrochronology to establish a record of climate variation.[12]
Conservation
An estimated 15% of its habitat has been lost through inundation for hydroelectric schemes and to fire over the past 100 years or so. Extensive logging in the past has removed nearly all large trees, but there is regrowth nearly everywhere. One stand of the species has been made available for access to craft wood from dead and downed timber under a strict licensing system. It is illegal to cut living trees.[1]
See also
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ .
- .
- ^ Sinclair, W. T., R. R. Mill, M. F. Gardner, P. Woltz, T. Jaffré, J. Preston, M. L. Hollingsworth, A. Ponge, and M. Möller. (2002) Evolutionary Relationships of the New Caledonian Heterotrophic Conifer Parasitaxus Ustus (Podocarpaceae), Inferred from Chloroplast trnL-F Intron/Spacer and Nuclear ITS2 Sequences. Plant Systematics and Evolution 233: 79–104.
- ^ "Half-hardy trees in Britain and Ireland - part two". Royal Horticultural Society. Archived from the original on 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ a b "Plants - Huon pine : one of the oldest plants on earth". Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania. 2003.
- ^ Graham Lloyd, "The oldest tree", The Australian, September 10, 2011. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
- ^ "Could a tree be 10,000 years old?". Gumnuts - the ASGAP Blog. Archived from the original on 2007-04-11. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
- ^ Cris Brack and Matthew Brookhouse, Where the old things are: Australia's most ancient trees", The Conversation, April 17, 2017: "the oldest in Australia could be a Huon pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii) in Tasmania, the oldest stem of which is up to 2,000 years old." Retrieved 2018-03-22.
- ^ Huon Pine Lagarostrobos franklinni" Archived 2018-06-28 at the Wayback Machine, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, 2011: "Individuals have been known to reach an age of 3,000 years." Retrieved 2018-03-22.
- ^ Quinn, Lagarostrobos franklinii, The Gymnosperm Database, 1982: "Living trees sampled by increment borer have yielded ring counted ages of up to 2,500 years, and since these were not pith dates, it seems likely that there are living trees with ages in excess of 3,000 years (Balmer 1999)." Retrieved 2018-03-22.
- ^ Cook, E.R., Francey, R.J., Buckley, B.M. and D'Arrigo, R.D., "Recent increases in Tasmanian Huon pine ring widths from a subalpine stand: natural climate variability, CO2 fertilisation, or greenhouse warming?", Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, vol. 130(2), 1996, pp. 65-72. ISSN 0080-4703. Retrieved 2018-03-22.