Dundathu pine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dundathu pine |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Agathis
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| Species: |
robusta
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The Queensland kauri pine (also known as Agathis robusta) is a very tall tree. It's a type of coniferous tree, which means it produces cones and has needle-like or scale-like leaves. It belongs to the Araucariaceae family. You can find this amazing tree in two main places: Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia. These two groups of trees are far apart. Sometimes, the trees in Papua New Guinea are called a different species, Agathis spathulata.
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Where Queensland Kauri Pines Live
The Queensland kauri pine grows in two main areas. One group lives in the south, on Fraser Island and near Maryborough. The other group is found in the north, on the Atherton Tableland west of Cairns. The northern trees were once thought to be a different type, called Agathis palmerstonii. But scientists now know they are the same as the southern trees.
What the Tree Looks Like
This tree is a large evergreen tree. This means it keeps its leaves all year round. It grows very straight and tall, reaching heights of 30 to 50 meters (about 100 to 165 feet). That's as tall as a 10-story building!
Its bark is smooth and scaly. The leaves are tough and feel like leather. They are usually 5 to 12 centimeters long and 2 to 5 centimeters wide. The leaves don't have a main vein down the middle. They grow in pairs on the stem, or sometimes in groups of three.
The tree produces large, round seed cones. These cones are 8 to 13 centimeters wide. They take about 18 to 20 months to grow after the tree is pollinated. When the cones are ready, they break apart. This releases the seeds inside. The male cones, which produce pollen, are shaped like cylinders. They are 5 to 10 centimeters long and about 1 to 1.5 centimeters thick.
How People Used Queensland Kauri Pine
In the past, the Queensland kauri pine was cut down a lot. People used its wood for many things. Because of this, it's now rare to see the truly huge trees that once existed. Even though many trees were logged, the species as a whole is not considered endangered today.
Gallery
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Foliage
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Bark
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Harvested in the Eudlo district, Queensland, in 1905
Images for kids
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Located in the Rose Garden at the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, California
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History and description of Agathis robusta tree at the Huntington Library and Gardens
See also
In Spanish: Agathis robusta para niños
