Araucaria schmidii

Araucaria schmidii is a plant of the genus Araucaria (Araucaria ). It is an endemic species belonging to New Caledonia island of Grande Terre.

Description

Araucaria schmidii grows as a evergreen tree that can reach heights of growth of up to 30 meters. The ascending and feathery branches are 6 to 9 millimeters thick. The gray bark flakes off in long strips that are 10 to 15 inches wide.

In young specimens the thick leaves are scale-like and have a incurved tip. They are lanceolate - keeled, with a length of about 2 mm and a width of about 1.5 millimeters. On older trees are the overlapping tile-like, scale-like leaves with a length of 7 to 10 millimeters and a width of 1.5 to 2 millimeters lanceolate - keeled with an incurved tip.

The male cones are about 5 inches long and 1.5 inches thick. The female cones reach a length of 9 to 11 centimeters and a diameter of 7 to 9 cm.

Occurrence

The natural range of Araucaria schmidii includes the located in the northeast of Grande Terre Mount Pani. They are found there in the summit region and on the higher mountain slopes. The entire circulation area covers an area of ​​about one square kilometer.

Araucaria schmidii thrives at altitudes from 1500 to 1630 meters. She does not grow as the only Araucaria species in New Caledonia on ultrabasic rocks. They are found mainly in the cloud forest.

System

Araucaria schmidii belongs to the section Eutacta within the genus Araucaria (Araucaria ). The first description as Araucaria was schmidii 1969 by David John de Laubenfels in Travaux du Forestier Laboratorie de Toulouse 1 ( 8) Type 5: page 1

Threats and conservation

Araucaria rulei is in the IUCN Red List as "vulnerable" out. The total population is estimated at less than 1,000 mature trees. Due to the small distribution area and the small number of trees, the species is considered vulnerable to vagaries of the weather, as this can damage the entire stock. Since the Mount Pani is a popular destination for eco-tourists, there is also the danger that introduced by these diseases such as Phytophthora in the stock.

Swell

• Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not in ISO format Christopher J. Earle: Araucaria schmidii. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, December 12, accessed 26 June 2011 (English).