Common Name: King Billy Pine

General Information

Athrotaxis selaginoides is an evergreen tree with a long, conical crown when young, becoming irregular with age; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The bole is usually straight and cylindrical, though it can be twisted and is sometimes multi-stemmed in open sites; it can be up to 150cm in diameter[].
The tree provides some excellent wood for special uses like wood carving and turning. However, virtually all trees, including dead wood, are now within protected areas and removal is prohibited.
Athrotaxis selaginoides is only found in southeast Tasmania, where its total range is substantially less than 2,000 km². The population is severely fragmented and it is estimated that there has been a population reduction of at least 40% over the last 200 years (three generations would be about 300 years), primarily due to fires. While decline has slowed, it has not ceased. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - S.W. Tasmania

Habitat

Wet, talus or peat soils from transitional forests at elevations above Eucalyptus woodland, up to the alpine; at elevations from 400 - 1,120 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Athrotaxis selaginoides is a plant of the temperate zone, growing in areas where snowfall is quite common in winter, at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 22°c, but can tolerate 5 - 28°c[, ]. When dormant, the plant can survive occasional temperatures down to about °-10c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 2,750mm[, ]. It succeeds outdoors in the south and west of Britain, producing fertile seed in western Britain, but does not grow well in the rest of the country[].
Requires a sheltered position in a rich moist soil[]. Found wild in acidic, rocky (talus) or peaty soils which are usually wet[].
A slow-growing tree[].
Plants are not very tolerant of fire and tend to disappear from the landscape in areas subject to fire. Before the arrival of humans fire was a very rare event in its high-rainfall habitat, but with the advent of human activity

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is pink to reddish brown; the sapwood yellow. The texture is fine, with close, prominent growth rings; it has a pleasant, cedar scent. The wood is very light in weight, very soft, very durable with good resistance to rot. It seasons very readily with little shrinkage or distortion. It is easily worked; planes and cuts very well; is easily split; and has good bending properties. Because of its softness, however, it bruises easily. .A softwood with a pleasant cedar scent, it is highly valued for many uses such as boat building, joinery, shingles, sounding boards in musical instruments, vats etc. It is aAn excellent wood for special uses like wood carving and turning but, because of its softness, it tears on the end grain[, , ]
The tree is no longer harvested. Virtually all trees, including dead wood, are now within protected areas and removal is prohibited[].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter/early spring in a cool greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 7 - 10cm long in early autumn (early autumn), in sandy soil in a cold frame. Leave for 12 months[].