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Bull kauri | |
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At Lake Barrine circuit walk, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland. | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Araucariales |
Family: | Araucariaceae |
Genus: | Agathis |
Species: | A. microstachya
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Binomial name | |
Agathis microstachya J.F.Bailey & C.White[2]
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Agathis microstachya, the bull kauri, is a species of conifer in the family Araucariaceae, endemic to Australia. It was described in 1918 by John Frederick Bailey and Cyril Tenison White.[2] 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.[3]
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.[3]
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.[3]