| Callitris
oblonga (south esk pine or esk pine) is a small, rare
native tree found in the north-east of Tasmania (and also
widely in south-eastern Australia). Although it will
regenerate well after fire, frequent fires will eliminate
it. As a result it is restricted to low-fire parts of this
very fire-prone region.
Callitris species have woody cones and leaves in
whorls. The adult leaves are in whorls of three - these
leaves reduced to widely spaced scales and the intervening
stems are green and photosynthetic. Juvenile leaves are
needle-like and spreading and are in whorls of three or
four.
The female cones of C. oblonga are about 20-25
mm long and about 15mm wide. It is less common than the
other member of this genus in Tasmania, C.
rhomboidea, and is similar except that the
female cones are elongated and the foliage is distinctly
blue.
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University of Tasmania
