Lagarostrobos

Huon Pine
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Podocarpaceae Genus: Lagarostrobos Species: franklinii
Binomial name
Lagarostrobos franklinii

The species Lagarostrobos franklinii, known as Huon Pine or Macquarie Pine, is a species of conifer growing mainly in the wetter southeastern corner of Tasmania, Australia. It is a slow growing tree whose timber was highly prized for its golden yellow colour, fine grain and natural oils that resisted rotting. Some living specimens of this tree are in excess of 2000 years in age.

A stand of trees reputed to be in excess of 10,500 years in age was recently found in North Western Tasmania on Mt Read. Each of the trees in this stand is a genetically identical male that has reproduced vegetatively. Although no single tree in this stand is of that age, the stand itself as a single organism has been in existence that long.

Heavy logging of the trees for its fine timber coupled with the tree's slow growth has led to remaining stands being less than 10,500 ha. The remaining stands of this species of tree now has protected status within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

External links

• Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area