Microstrobos fitzgeraldi

(F. Mueller) J. Garden et L. Johnson 1951

Common names

Dwarf mountain pine; Blue Mountain dwarf pine (Silba 1986).

Taxonomic notes

Syn: Dacrydium fitzgeraldi F. Mueller; Pherosphaera fitzgeraldi (F. Mueller) F. Mueller; (Dallimore et al. 1967).

Description

Ascending, drooping or erect many-branched shrub with long slender drooping branchlets to 1 m high and to 2 m diam. Leaves 2.5-3.5 mm long, less than 1 mm wide, sharply keeled, the point slightly incurved, the inner surface white with stomatal lines, olive-green and shining below, shortly decurrent. Male cones ovate to globose, c. 6 mm long. Female cones 2-4 mm long with 4-8 fertile scales (Dallimore et al. 1967, Harden 1990, Hill 1998).

Range

Australia: NSW, Blue Mtns. Known only from southerly aspects on a few cliffs in the Wentworth Falls-Katoomba district. Usually grows on wet rocks within the spray of waterfalls or on ledges or in caves near waterfalls (Harden 1990, Hill 1998).

Big tree

Oldest

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Observations

Photographs shown here were taken at Wentworth Falls, and I also know it occurs at Bonnie Doon Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Leura Falls.

Remarks

This species is currently listed on the index of threatened Australian plant species.

Citations

See also

Benson, J. 1989. Establishing priorities for the conservation of rare or threatened plants and plants associations in New South Wales. P.17-82 in M. Hicks and P. Eiser (eds.) The conservation of threatened species and their habitats. Proceedings of a national conference held in Sydney in March, 1987. Canberra: Australian Committee for IUCN.

Benson, J. 1991. Beautiful but vanishing flora. Geo 13(3):52-59.

Benson, J.S. 1992. Microstrobos fitzgeraldii F. Muell. (family Podocarpaceae). P.16 in: Leigh, J.H. and Briggs, J.D. (eds.) 'Threatened Australian Plants - Overview and Case Studies'. Canberra: ANPWS.

Brown, I. 1990. Rare and endangered: living on the edge. Australian Natural History 23(3):252.

Fensom, G. 1996. Microstrobos fitgeraldii, the dwarf mountain pine. [species profile] Danthonia 4(4):12-13.

Hooker. (1882) Icon. Pl. 14, 64, t. 1383.

Howes, J. and C. Smyth. 1994. The edge of extinction: Australia's threatened wildlife (2nd ed.) [brief entries on each plant]. Moorabbin: Gould League of Victoria.

Jones, W. 1994. The biology and management of the dwarf mountain pine (Microstrobos fitzgeraldii) in N.S.W. (Species Management Report no. 13) Hurstville: N.S.W. National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Smith, J. 1981. The distribution and conservation status of a rare conifer, Microstrobos fitzgeraldii (Podocarpaceae). Cunninghamia 1(1):125-128.

Gymnosperms of New Zealand.