Papuacedrus

Taxobox
name = "Papuacedrus papuana"
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Cupressaceae
genus = "Papuacedrus"
genus_authority = H.L.Li
species = "P. papuana"
binomial = "Papuacedrus papuana"
binomial_authority = (F.Muell.) H.L.Li

"Papuacedrus papuana" is a species in the conifer family Cupressaceae, the sole species in the genus "Papuacedrus". Some botanists do not consider this species as forming a distinct genus, but include it in the related genus "Libocedrus". It is native to New Guinea and the eastern Moluccas.

It is usually a medium-sized to large evergreen tree 16-50 m tall, at high altitudes only a shrub reaching up to 3 m). The foliage is borne in flat sprays, with the leaves scale-like, in opposite pairs, with facial and lateral pairs alternating; the lateral leaves are larger, 2-3 mm long on mature trees and up to 20 mm long on young trees, the facial leaves smaller, 1 mm on mature trees and up to 8 mm on young trees. The cones are 1-2 cm long, with four scales, a small, sterile basal pair, and a larger fertile pair; the fertile scales each bearing two winged seeds.

The species has two varieties, most readily distinguishable as young plants with juvenile leaves (the adult foliage being nearly indistinguishable):
*"Papuacedrus papuana" var. "papuana" (syn. "Libocedrus papuana" F.Muell., "Libocedrus torricellensis" Schltr., "Papuacedrus torricellensis" (Schltr.) H.L.Li). New Guinea, east of 138°E longitude; 620-3,800 m altitude. Juvenile leaves with a spreading, hook-like apex.
*"Papuacedrus papuana" var. "arfakensis" (Gibbs) R.J.Johns (syn. "Libocedrus arfakensis" Gibbs, "Papuacedrus arfakensis" (Gibbs) H.L.Li). New Guinea, west of 138°E longitude, Moluccas; 700-2,400 m altitude. Juvenile leaves not spreading, the apex not free from the shoot.

References

*IUCN2006|assessors=Conifer Specialist Group|year=1998|id=42260|title=Papuacedrus papuana|downloaded=12 May 2006
*Farjon, A. (2005). "Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4.
* [http://www.conifers.org/cu/pa/index.htm Gymnosperm Database: "Papuacedrus"]