Araucariaceae
Agathis lanceolata
One of four species of Agathis endemic to New Caledonia, where threats such as selective logging, fire and land clearance have caused serious fragmentation.
Description
Habit
Tree up to 40m tall and 1m or more d.b.h., bole cylindrical, broad crown radiating above. Bark smooth, exfoliating in large quantity, scales up to 20cm across, exposed bark grey, reddish when shaded.
Foliage
Leaves (mature) almost opposite, 9‒13 x 3‒5cm leathery, multiveined, glabrous, pale green.
Cones
Male pollen-cones axillary, solitary, cylindrical, 2‒2.5 x 0.8‒1cm, with 8 bracts at their base arranged in pairs, each pair at right angles to the pair next above or below. Female seed-cones solitary on thick stalks, globose, 10‒12cm across, green or glaucous green, very reinous, brown when mature. Seeds 12‒15 x 0.7mm, with two unequal wings.
References and further reading
- Jaffre, T., Bouchet, P. & Veillon, J.-M. (1998). Threatened plants of New Caledonia: Is the system of protected areas adequate? Biodiversity & Conservation 7(1): 36.
- Jaffré, T., Munzinger, J. & Lowry, P. P. (2010). Threats to the conifer species found on New Caledonia's ultramafic massifs and proposals for urgently needed measures to improve their protection. Biodiversity and Conservation: 19(5):1485-1502.
- Manauté, J., Jaffré, T., Veillon, J.-M. & Kranitz, M. (2003). Revue des Araucariaceae de Nouvelle-Calédonie. IRD, Nouméa.
- Nasi, R. (1982). Essai pour une meilleure connaissance et une meilleure comprehension des Araucariacées dans la végétation Calédonienne. Nouméa: École Nationale des Ingénieurs des Travaux des Eaux et Forêts, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical. 134 p., 10 plates, 44 p. appendices.
- Suprin, B. (2011). Florilège des plantes en Nouvelle-Calédonie angiospermes ou plantes à fleurs (lauracées à zingibéracées). Tome 1. Nouméa: Éditions Photosynthèse, Nouméa. 519 pp.
- Smith, R. M., Marty, R. A. & Peters, C. F. (1981). The diterpene acids in the bled resins of 3 Pacific kauri, Agathis vitiensis, Agathis lanceolata and Agathis macrophylla. Phytochemistry 20: 2205-2207.
- Thomas, P. (2010). Agathis lanceolata. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1.ww.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 29 June 2012.
- Whitmore, T. C. (1980). A monograph of Agathis. Plant Systematics & Evolution 135: 41-69.