Microstrobos

Australian Zwergstrobe ( Microstrobos fitzgeraldii )

Microstrobos is a genus with only two species in the family of Podocarpus plants ( Podocarpaceae ). They are also called Zwergstroben.

Description

They are evergreen shrubs. The leaves are needle-like but scaly and rough; They are available in four to five rows on the branches.

They are dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). The male and female, ovate to spherical cones are individually on the branches. The male cones are 2-3 mm long and contain eight to 15 stamens. The female cones are 2.5 mm long and consist of three to eight fertile cone scales, which are no different than in the other genera of the Podocarpaceae fleshy. Unlike most Podocarpaceae the seeds are in several small cones (hence the botanical name from the Greek words: micros for small and strobos for cones). Grayish brown or seeds have a diameter of about 1 mm.

Dissemination

A species is endemic in the Australian state of New South Wales, the other is endemic to Tasmania.

System

In the genus Microstrobos there are only two types:

• Australian Zwergstrobe ( Microstrobos fitzgeraldii ( F. Muell ) J. Garden % LAS Johnson; Syn. Dacrydium fitzgeraldii F. Muell, Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii ( F. Muell ) Hook f. .. ), Origin: New South Wales (Australia).
• Tasmanian Zwergstrobe ( Microstrobos niphophilus J. Garden & LAS Johnson; Syn: Pherosphaera hookeriana W. Archer bis), Origin: Tasmania usually at altitudes above 1000 meters.

Swell

• Information on the genus in www.conifers.org The Gymnosperm Database. (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

• Stone Yews
• Podocarpaceae