| SPECIES |
|---|
| L. austro-caledonica |
| L. bidwillii |
| L. chevalieri |
| L. plumosa |
| L. yateensis |
Common Names
Taxonomic notes
"Many authors have included the genera Calocedrus and Pilgerodendron in Libocedrus, but in recent years these genera have been separated once again and two additional genera: Papuacedrus Li and Austrocedrus Florin and Boutelje, have been proposed. Taking all the evidence into consideration, including differences in geographical distribution, vegetative and reproductive morphology, and anatomy, there seems to be as much justification for this segregation as for distinguishing between Cupressus and Chamaecyparis, a distinction which is now generally accepted" (1).Description
"Evergreen trees or shrubs. ... Bark thin, shed in long strips. Branchlets distichously divided and flattened into fern-like sprays. Winter buds hidden by leaves, as in Thuja. Leaves scale-like, flattened, decussate, the facial pairs short-decurrent; on older branchlets becoming larger and more spreading. Juvenile leaves longer and more spreading. Male and female strobili solitary, terminal, usually on different branches of the same tree. Male strobili oblong, with 6 - 10 decussately arranged, peltate, sporophylls. Female strobili ovoid, with 4 decussate, erect, woody, persistent scales, the outer smaller and sterile. Mature cones woody, ripening the first year, the scales valvate, each with a spine-like or triangular appendage on the back, each fertile scale bearing 1 or 2 flattened seeds which are very unequally winged, the lower wing erect and broad, the other narrow or rudimentary" (1).Range
New Zealand and New Caledonia (1).Big Tree
Oldest
Dendrochronology
Ethnobotany
"Wood reddish-brown or brown, fragrant with a spicy resinous odour, durable, easily worked, finishing with a good surface. Suitable for building purposes where great strength is unnecessary, the indoor finish of houses, and other work. No species of Libocedrus is sufficiently common to be of much importance as a source of timber" (1).Observations
Remarks
Named for the Greek libas, drop or tear, and cedrus, from its resinous character (1).Citations
(1) Dallimore & Jackson 1967.[Libocedrus] [Cupressaceae] [home]
This page is from the Gymnosperm Database
URL: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/2285/cu/li/index.htm
Edited by Christopher J. Earle
E-mail:earlecj@earthlink.net
Last modified on 21-Dec-98