| Callitris
rhomboidea (oyster bay pine) is a native tree (rarely
a shrub in exposed sites) found on Flinders Island and near
the east coast 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.
It is the largest tree in this dry, open forest.
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. rhomboidea are about 15mm
long and wide. It is more common than the other member of
this genus in Tasmania, C.
oblonga, and is similar except that the female
cones are not elongated and the foliage is not as blue.
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University of Tasmania
