Bull kauri | |
---|---|
Bull Kauri, Lake Barrine circuit walk, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia |
|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Pinales |
Family: | Araucariaceae |
Genus: | Agathis |
Species: | A. microstachya |
Binomial name | |
Agathis microstachya J.F.Bailey & C.White |
Agathis microstachya, the bull kauri, is a species of conifer in the Araucariaceae family, endemic to Australia. It was described in 1918 by John Frederick Bailey and Cyril Tenison White. It is threatened by habitat loss.
A. microstachya grows up to about 50 m (160 ft) in height and 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) in diameter. The trunk is unbuttressed, straight and with little taper. Distinctive features are coarse, flaky bark, medium-sized cones with 160-210 scales, and leaves with numerous longitudinal, parallel veins.
It has a very restricted distribution, being almost limited to the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, with its elevational range 400–900 m (1,300–3,000 ft) above sea level.
The wood has an even texture, is easy to work and polishes well. The heartwood is cream to pale brown in colour. It is soft and light with a density of about 480 kg/m3 (30 lb/cu ft). It is not durable in contact with the ground, but can be used for house framing and flooring.