| Athrotaxis
selaginoides (king billy pine) is a native tree
mostly found in higher altitude rainforest, although it
sometimes occurs as an alpine shrub or a lowland rainforest
tree. It is endemic to Tasmania. It is quite fire sensitive
and is found in the rainforests of many parts of western and
southern Tasmania. It isn't known in the north-east. The
genus has one other species (A.
cupressoides), which is also endemic to
southern, western and central Tasmania. The two species
hybridise (producing A.
x laxifolia).
The genus Athrotaxis has spirally arranged,
single-veined leaves, and woody cones. The leaves of A.
selaginoides are narrow and elongated (about 10 mm
long and about 2mm wide) and spread out from the stem.
Leaves growing in the shade are longer, and spread more
widely than leaves growing in full sun. It can become a
large tree (more than 30m tall and 2m in diameter) and
live for more than 1000 years. The female cones are
typically about 18 mm in diameter, and the scales end in
an elongate scale.
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University of Tasmania
