Common Name: Huon Pine

General Information

Lagarostrobos franklinii is an evergreen tree with a more or less conical or pyramidal crown when young, becoming spreading, with large ascending main branches with age; it can grow around 25 metres tall, occasionally reaching 30metres, with a trunk up to 150cm in diameter, exceptionally to 200cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. Huon pine was once the most important timber tree of Tasmania, but its exploitation was unsustainable and resources of good timber trees were exhausted. Today, virtually all large trees have gone, but a few escaped the loggers and are now assidiously protected[]
Lagarostrobos franklinii does not meet any criteria for a threatened category, despite massive logging in the past which at one time reduced the population to a fraction of what it must have been prior to European settlement. While this has meant that few large trees remain, the species has shown a very good capacity to recover, much of it through resprouting and layering, and the tree has recovered 80 - 85% of its former area of occupancy The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - southern and westerm Tasmania.

Habitat

Banks of rivers and swampy flats; at elevations up to 750 metres[, ]. Usually found on river banks or close to rivers, but occasionally occurring on wet hill sides away from main water courses in temperate rainforest[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Lagarostrobos franklinii is not very cold-hardy, though it is said to be tolerant of short-lived periods with temperatures falling as low as -7°c in areas that also have hot summers[, , ]. An 80 year old tree at Bodnant in Cornwall (zone 8) was 6 metres tall in 1970[].
Requires a light, freely draining soil[] in a sheltered position with protection from cold winds[]. Requires high rainfall and humidity if it is to succeed[]. This species tolerates shade and probably requires it in drier areas if the tree is to survive[, ]. It requires warm summers if it is to grow well in this country, and even then it is very slow growing[, ].
A very slow-growing tree[].
Branches of older trees are frequently layering, sometimes extending over large areas[].

Edible Uses

The source of an essential oil, called Huon pinewood oil, that has been recommended for the production of vanillin[, ]. This can be used as a flavouring in ice creams, confectionery, beverages etc[]. It is usually obtained by steam distillation of the wood[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The essential oil (see above) is also used in medicinal soaps, toilet water, as a preservative in casein paints etc[, , ].

Wood - fairly hard, straight grained, light, soft, strong, aromatic. It is very durable, containing a strongly scented resin that repels insects. Used for construction, furniture etc[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a freely draining compost. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 20°c[]. Another report says that the seed can be very slow to germinate and that it is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible.