- Athrotaxis laxifolia
Taxobox
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo =Pinales
familia =Cupressaceae
genus = "Athrotaxis "
species = "A. laxifolia"
binomial = "Athrotaxis laxifolia"
binomial_authority = Hook."Athrotaxis laxifolia" is a species of "
Athrotaxis ", endemic toTasmania inAustralia , where it grows at 1,000–1,200 m altitude.Farjon, A. (2005). "Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4] [Conifer Specialist Group 2000. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/30532/all "Athrotaxis laxifolia"] ]It is an
evergreen coniferoustree growing to 10–20 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter. The leaves are scale-like, 4–12 mm long and 2–3 mm broad, arranged spirally on the shoots. The seed cones are oblong-globose, 15–26 mm long and 14–20 mm diameter, with 14–18 spirally-arranged scales; they are mature about six months after pollination. The pollen cones are 3–5 mm long.Its status in the wild is little-known; it is the rarest of the three species of "Athrotaxis". It is in many respects intermediate between "
Athrotaxis cupressoides " and "Athrotaxis selaginoides ", and it is strongly suspected of being a natural hybrid between these two; however, genetic evidence for this is inconclusive.Away from ints native range, it is occasionally cultivated as an
ornamental tree in northwesternEurope . Despite being the rarest of the three in the wild, it is the most frequently planted "Athrotaxis" in cultivation, though still only seen in major collections; trees inIreland have reached 20 m tall.Mitchell, A. F. (1974). "A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-212035-6] Tree Register of the British Isles]References
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