Libocedrus bidwillii
Libocedrus bidwillii
Libocedrus bidwillii or Pahautea 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 forests at higher elevations with high annual rainfall. The reddish wood is of little value and the trees are often used as ornamental trees, usually only in larger gardens and arboretums.
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Description
Habit
Libocedrus bidwillii forms up to 25 sometimes 28 meters high trees with breast height diameters of 1 to 1.5 meters. The bark is thin, scaly, gray-brown and peels off in thin strips. The branches are long, ascending or spreading. The leafy branches are numerous and arranged in dense, overlapping clumps that form in young trees a pyramidal crown of trees in forests an irregular or conical crown. In young trees form the leafy branches flattened tufts, in older trees, they are irregularly shaped and ascending. The outermost branches are almost opposite to alternate constantly, 5 to 40 millimeters long, completely covered with leaves and binding. In younger trees, they are flattened, in the elderly, they show a more square cross-section.
The leaves grow decussate and are short- decurrent, overlapping, and two polymorphic in young trees on the outermost branches. The area leaves are small, rhombic, 1.5 to 2 millimeters long and about 1 mm wide, apiculate to acute and pressed. You are covered at the base by the larger, 2-4 rarely to 6 mm long and 1.5 to 2.5 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 on both sides of stomata in leaves near the base surface, at the edges of sheets they are reduced at the top, is arranged at the bottom in a sharp, short conveyor.
Cones and seeds
The pollen cones are individually at branch ends. They are round to oval and 2.5 to 5 millimeters long. The 8 to 10 times to 14 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 the same multiform leaves. The last pair of leaves is 8 to 12 millimeters long and woody within a period of growth. The bracts are 7-10 mm long, slightly wrinkled and bent back. The cones are formed two to four ovate, flattened, pointed, 2-3 mm long, brown seeds with a white hilum and two opposite, thin-skinned wings. The smaller wing forms a 1 -millimeter-wide strip, the larger is yellowish brown, irregularly oval-oblong, 4-5 mm long and 2-3 mm wide.
Distribution and habitat requirements
The natural range of Libocedrus bidwillii is located on the North and South Islands of New Zealand in altitude 250-1200 meters. The species grows in montane to subalpine, evergreen rain forest and one of the largest trees that environment. It grows along with Halocarpus biformis, Phyllocladus trichomanoides var alpinus and Podocarpus cunninghamii, at lower altitudes with the rimu Harzeibe ( Dacrydium cupressinum ). Besides growing angiosperms such as the South Island Ironwood ( Metrosideros umbellata ), Nothofagus solandri, Quintinia acutifolia and Weinmannia racemosa. The trees are long-lived and reach an age of 800 to 1000 years. The soil has a high content of organic matter and is usually saturated with water. At higher altitudes, the forests are limited to dehydrated areas that are surrounded by peat bogs with sedge. The climate is humid with high annual rainfall and frequent fog. Summers are humid and cool.
Endangering
The IUCN Red List is led Libocedrus bidwillii as not at risk ( " Lower Risk / least concern "). It is noted, however, that a re-evaluation of risks is required.
Systematics and history of research
Libocedrus bidwillii is a species of the genus the scales cedars ( Libocedrus ) in the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It was first described in 1864 by Joseph Dalton Hooker in the Handbook of the New Zealand flora. 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 honors the bidwillii collector John C. Bidwill (1815-1853), the material of many species of New Zealand to William Jackson Hooker, the first director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has sent.
Use
The reddish wood of the species is not very valuable, as it can easily splinter. The species is slightly more common than Libocedrus plumosa, the other Schuppenzedernart to New Zealand, used as an ornamental tree, but they are usually limited to larger arboretums and gardens.