Common Names

Moore kauri (Silba 1986).

Taxonomic notes

Syn.: Dammara moorei Lindl. 1851, Dammara lanceolata Viell. 1862 (Farjon 1998). Curiously, due to a mix-up of the type specimens, this tree with lanceolate leaves was named Agathis moorei whilst a tree collected by Moore was named Agathis lanceolata (pers. comm. Graeme Platt, 12-Mar-2003).

Description

Tree 15-30 m tall, normally with a clear bole to the base of the rounded, spreading crown. Bark whitish, exfoliating in fine scales; inner bark tan or reddish. Branches fine, pendent at the tips. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic, attenuate, dark green above, pale below, 5-7 × 0.8-1.2 cm, nearly sessile. Juvenile leaves lanceolate, opposite, 20 × 3.3 cm, on a short, wide petiole. Buds short and round with a few large scales. Cones globular or pyriform, 10-15 × 9-12 cm; cone scales broadly rounded. Pollen cones cylindrical, 2.5-3 × 0.8-0.9 cm, on an 8-12 mm peduncle; scales imbricate, erose and finely denticulate. Seeds narrow, with one oblique wing and one small, acute wing (Silba 1986).

Range

New Caledonia: Pembe to Thio and Dumbea to Prony at elevations of 200-1000 m (Silba 1986).

Big Tree

Oldest

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

This species is listed as "VU B1+2c" (vulnerable; population is localised, fragmented and declining) by the WCMC, which adds: "Scattered throughout the northern half of the island, the species is found in areas of lowland rainforest mostly on non-ultramafic substrates. Substantial declines have occurred through overexploitation of the timber in recent years. Copal is also extracted at moderate levels."

Citations

See Also

de Laubenfels 1972.