Athrotaxis

Similar cypress shed Spruce ( Athrotaxis cupressoides )

The scales spruce ( Athrotaxis ), also called Tasmanian cedar, are the only genus in the subfamily Athrotaxidoideae within the family of cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). The botanical name is derived from two Greek words: athros = populated, and taxis = arrangement, it takes with respect to the overlapping leaves.

Dissemination

They are located only in the temperate rainforests of Tasmania.

Description

The scales spruce are evergreen trees; they reach a growth rate of 10 to 30 ( rarely 40) meters and trunk diameter of 1.0 to 1.5 (up to 2 ) meters. The bark peels off in thin, long strips. They have thick overhanging branches. The thick scaly leaves are all the same shape and are 3 to 14 mm long.

The scales spruce trees are monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). The kitten -like male cones are individually. The spherical female cones are woody, the cone scales are triangular. Pro pin - scale develop three to six seeds. The elongated, thin seeds have two identically shaped wings. The seed maturation takes place within one year. The seeds are spread via the wind. The seedlings have two seed leaves ( cotyledons ).

Use

The wood is durable and was formerly much used in Tasmania, but the species are now too rare to be cut down. For example, shingles were made ​​from roofing.

There are very beautiful ornamental trees, they grow well in areas with a lot of rainfall, mild winters and cool summers, as in the British Isles, on the Pacific coast of North America and New Zealand.

System

There are three Athrotaxis species ( or two species and a bastard ):

• Similar cypress shed spruce or Serrated shed Spruce ( Athrotaxis cupressoides D. Don ): The leaves are short ( 3-5 mm). The cones are small ( 1 to 1.5 cm), they are pressed close to the twig. This species has its area in western Tasmania ( Launceston, Lake Saint Clair, Mount Field National Park ) at altitude 640-1067 meters. The oldest specimen of this species is about 1000 years old.
• Crescent shed Spruce ( Athrotaxis selaginoides D. Don ): The leaves are longer than in other species ( 8 to 14 mm), they are on the branch. The pins are larger than for the other species ( 2 to 3 cm). Your area extends from the mountain regions of the Central Plateau to the west coast of Tasmania, at an altitude 914-1219 meters. The oldest living tree of this kind is 777 years old. The wood is very soft with a fine grain, it is very durable and weather resistant. It was in boat building, for shingles and used for the construction of ensembles of musical instruments.
• Athrotaxis laxifolia Hook:. It is a hybrid of A. cupressoides × A. selaginoides. The leaves are short ( 4-7 mm), they are on the branch. The pins are in size and appearance between its two parental species (1.5 to 2.5 cm). They grow at altitudes between 900 and 1200 meters. The oldest known tree of this kind is 1300 years old. The wood is soft and reddish.

Swell

• Christopher J. Earle: Athrotaxis. In: The Gymnosperm Database. December 12, 2010, accessed on 20 October 2011 ( English).
• Walter Erhardt et al: The big walleye. Encyclopedia of plant names. Volume 2 Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7