Araucaria hunsteinii

Araucaria hunsteinii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Division:Pinophyta
Class:Pinopsida
Order:Pinales
Family:Araucariaceae
Genus:Araucaria
Section:A. sect. Intermedia
Species: A. hunsteinii
Binomial name
Araucaria hunsteinii

Araucaria hunsteinii (Klinki or Klinkii) is a species of Araucaria native to the mountains of Papua New Guinea. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Araucaria hunsteinii mature leaf detail.
Araucaria hunsteinii mature trunk detail.

It is a very large evergreen tree (the tallest in New Guinea, and the tallest species in its family), growing to 50–80 m tall, exceptionally to 90 m, with a trunk up to 3 m diameter. The branches are horizontal, produced in whorls of five or six. The leaves are spirally arranged, scale-like or awl-like, 6–12 cm long and 1.5–2 cm broad at the base, with a sharp tip; leaves on young trees are shorter (under 9 cm) and narrower (under 1.5 cm). It is usually monoecious with male and female cones on the same tree; the pollen cones are long and slender, up to 20 cm long and 1 cm broad; the seed cones are oval, up to 25 cm long and 14–16 cm broad. The seed cones disintegrate at maturity to release the numerous 3–4 cm long nut-like seeds.

Cultivation and uses

It is a fast-growing tree, and is being tested as a potentially important timber crop in tropical highland climates.

References

  1. Thomas, P. (2013). "Araucaria hunsteinii". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2013: e.T32836A2825399. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32836A2825399.en. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  • Conifer Specialist Group 1998. Araucaria hunsteinii. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
  • Howcroft, N. H. S. (1978). Data sheets on species undergoing genetic impoverishment: Araucaria hunsteinii. Forest Genetics Resources Information 8: 31-37.
  • Russo, R. O., & Briscoe, C. B. (2002). Performance of Klinki (Araucaria hunsteinii K. Schuman) in the Humid Tropics of Costa Rica. Journal of Sustainable Forestry 14 (4): 13-18.
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