Athrotaxis cupressoides
| Athrotaxis cupressoides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Genus: | Athrotaxis |
| Species: | A. cupressoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Athrotaxis cupressoides D.Don | |
Athrotaxis cupressoides is a species of Athrotaxis, endemic to Tasmania in Australia, where it grows at 700–1,300 m altitude.[1][2] Its common name is Pencil Pine, although it's not a member of the Pine family.
It is an evergreen coniferous tree growing to 10–20 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter. The leaves are scale-like, 3–6 mm long and 2–3 mm broad, arranged spirally on the shoots. The seed cones are globose, 10–16 mm diameter, with 10–16 spirally-arranged scales; they are mature about six months after pollination. The pollen cones are 3–5 mm long.[1]
The species is threatened, with the major cause of decline being out-of-control bushfires set to clear logging debris after timber harvests in nearby Eucalyptus forests; a large proportion of the species' range was severely affected by major fires in 1960–1961. Disease caused by Phytophthora species has also been identified as a cause of dieback. Regeneration is also hampered by introduced sheep and rabbits.[1]
Away from its native range, it is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental tree in northwestern Europe.[3]