Libocedrus plumosa
Libocedrus plumosa
Libocedrus plumosa or Kawaka is an evergreen coniferous tree of the genus shed cedar ( Libocedrus ). The range of the species is on the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Where it grows in lowland evergreen rain forests with high annual rainfall, warm summers and mild winters. The dark, reddish wood is popular for paneling and veneers, but has the nature of their rarity and the protection of minimal economic importance. It is also rarely used as an ornamental plant.
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Description
Habit
Libocedrus plumosa forms up to 30, sometimes 35 meters high trees with breast height diameters of 2 to 3 meters. The bark is thin, scaly, light brown to gray-brown and peels off in narrow, about 10 inches wide and elongated strips. The branches are long, ascending or spreading. There are numerous leafy branches formed, which are arranged in dense, overlapping tufts. They form in young trees a pyramidal crown of trees in forests an irregular or conical crown. The leafy, no tang forming branches form flattened tufts. The outermost branches are almost opposite to alternate constantly, 15 to 35 mm long and 2-6 mm wide, completely covered with leaves and binding.
The leaves grow decussate and are short- decurrent, overlapping, and two polymorphic at the outermost branches. The area leaves are small, rhombic, 1-2 mm long and about 1 mm wide, apiculate to acute and pressed. You are covered at the base by the larger, 2-5 rarely to 6 mm long and 1.5 to 2 mm wide, projecting and flattened on both sides and slightly curved, ganzrandigen edges leaves. The leaves of older trees are smaller and almost equal diverse. The leaves form stomata on both sides. Surface sheets make up this close to the base, at the edges of leaves, they are at the top in a small trough, located on the bottom as a clear, irregular band.
Cones and seeds
The pollen cones are individually at branch ends. They are round to ovoid and 3-5 millimeters long. The 8 to 12 Mikrosporophylle grow decussate. You are shield-shaped, entire and have four yellow, abaxial pollen sacs. The seed cones are at the ends of branches with weak two -faceted leaves. You become woody within a period of growth and are then 12 to 18 millimeters long. The upper pair of bracts is 10 to 15 millimeters long, the outside back slightly curved, with blunt or pointed end. The lower pair is shorter with 5-9 millimeters and has pointed ends dandruff. The cones are formed two to four ovate, flattened, pointed, 3-5 mm long, brown seeds with a white hilum and two opposite, thin-skinned wings. The smaller wing forms a less than 1 millimeter wide strip, the larger is yellowish brown, irregularly oval-oblong, 6-8 mm long and 3 to 4.5 millimeters wide.
Distribution and habitat requirements
The natural range of Libocedrus plumosa is located on the North Island of New Zealand, in the South Island it is limited to the Nelson district. It grows from sea level to altitudes of 600 meters. In the lowlands it forms in evergreen, mixed rainforests along with other conifers, such as the New Zealand Warzeneibe ( Dacrycarpus dacrydioides ), the rimu Harzeibe ( Dacrydium cupressinum ) Halocarpus kirkii, Manoao colensoi, Phyllocladus trichomanoides, Podocarpus cunninghamii, Podocarpus totara, Prumnopitys ferruginea, Prumnopitys taxifolia and north of the North Island with the New Zealand kauri tree ( Agathis australis), the crown layer. Besides growing angiosperms as Beilschmiedia tarairi, Dysoxylum spectabile and Südseemyrte ( Leptospermum scoparium ). The climatic conditions are characterized by abundant rainfall, warm summers and mild winters.
Endangering
In the IUCN Red List Libocedrus plumosa is as Near Threatened ( " Lower Risk / near threatened " ) out. It is noted, however, that a re-evaluation of risks is required. The lowland forests have been greatly reduced, since Europeans to settle New Zealand, where there is no data how much this has impacted on the stocks. The regeneration cycle extends over several hundred years and the sustainable survival depends on large areas of undisturbed old trees. Such stocks are endangered by selective felling, which are still possible despite the establishment of protected areas.
Systematics and history of research
Libocedrus plumosa is a species of the genus the scales cedars ( Libocedrus ) in the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It was first described in 1832 by David Don as Dacrydium plumosum ( basionym ), and thus the genus of resin yew trees ( Dacrydium ) assigned. Charles Sprague Sargent presented the way in 1896 to the shed cedars. The genus name is derived from the Greek Libocedrus Libo for " tear" or "drop " down, thus pointing to emerging drop of resin, and of cedrus the generic name of the cedars. The specific epithet plumosa derives from the Latin pluma for " down feather " from, referring to the shape of the foliage.
Other synonyms are Libocedrus doniana ( Hook. ) Endl. and Thuja doniana Hook ..
Use
The dark, reddish wood of the species is finely textured and beautifully patterned and is therefore often used for veneers and paneling. However, due to the rarity and the protective measures it has only a minor economic importance. It is seldom cultivated because it is sensitive to cold than Libocedrus bidwillii, but can be planted in southern Europe and in California, if the water supply is guaranteed.