Athrotaxis selaginoides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Athrotaxis selaginoides |
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Athrotaxis
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selaginoides
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Athrotaxis selaginoides is a special type of tree that grows only in Tasmania, Australia. It's found high up in the mountains, usually where it snows a lot in winter. People often call it King Billy Pine or King William Pine. This name probably comes from William Lanne, a famous Tasmanian Aboriginal man. Even though it's called a "pine," it's not a true pine tree.
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About King Billy Pine
This tree is an evergreen conifer, which means it keeps its leaves all year round, and its seeds grow in cones. It can grow very tall, sometimes reaching 20 to 30 meters (about 65 to 100 feet) high. Its trunk can be as wide as 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) across!
The leaves of the King Billy Pine look a bit like claws. They are about 7 to 18 millimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. They grow in a spiral pattern around the branches.
The seed cones are round, about 15 to 30 millimeters wide. They have 20 to 30 scales that also grow in a spiral. It takes about six months for these cones to fully grow after the tree is pollinated. The pollen cones, which are smaller, are about 4 to 5 millimeters long.
Protecting King Billy Pine
Sadly, the number of King Billy Pine trees has gone down a lot over time. In the last 200 years, about 40% of these trees have disappeared.
One of the biggest problems for these trees is fire. King Billy Pines are very sensitive to fire, and about a third of their natural home was burned in the 1900s. Another reason for their decline was logging, where trees were cut down for wood.
Good news is that most of the forests where King Billy Pine grows (about 84%) are now in protected areas. This means they are safe from logging. The Tasmanian government has also made rules that stop people from cutting down these trees, even outside the protected areas. However, fires are still a risk that needs to be managed to keep these special trees safe.
Where Can You See King Billy Pine?
You can see examples of the King Billy Pine at The Tasmanian Arboretum, which is a special garden for trees.
Sometimes, people also grow this tree in other parts of the world, especially in northwestern Europe. It grows well in places like Scotland because it gets enough rain there. It can even produce seeds in these places, helping more trees to grow.
See also
In Spanish: Cedro del rey Guillermo para niños
