View source for Agathis robusta

{{Short description|Species of conifer in the family Araucariaceae}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Agathis australis]], in New Zealand}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Agathis robusta2.JPG
| status = LC
| status_system = QLDNCA
| status_ref = {{R|DESQLD}}
| status2 = LC
| status2_system = IUCN3.1
| status2_ref = {{R|IUCN}}
| genus = Agathis
| species = robusta
| authority = ([[Charles Moore (botanist)|C.Moore]] ex [[Ferdinand von Mueller|F.Muell.]]) [[Frederick Manson Bailey|F.M.Bailey]]{{R|APNI|POWO}}
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = 
*[[Agathis robusta subsp. nesophila|''Agathis robusta'' subsp. ''nesophila'']] {{small|[[Timothy Charles Whitmore|Whitmore]]}}
*''Agathis robusta'' subsp. ''robusta''
| subdivision_ref = {{R|POWO}}
| range_map = Agathis-robusta-distribution-map.png
| synonyms = ''Dammara robusta'' <small>C.Moore ex F.Muell.</small>
| synonyms_ref = {{R|POWO}}
}}

'''''Agathis robusta''''', commonly known as '''Queensland kauri (pine)''', '''kauri pine''' or '''smooth-barked kauri''', is a [[Pinophyta|coniferous]] tree in the family [[Araucariaceae]]. It has a [[disjunct distribution]], occurring in [[Papua New Guinea]] and in two widely separated locations in [[Queensland]], Australia. It was first described in 1859 and was heavily logged in the mid-19th century. It is not a true pine (family [[Pinaceae]]), but Araucariaceae and Pinaceae are both conifer families in the [[class (biology)|class]] Pinopsida.

==Description==
''Agathis robusta'' is a large [[evergreen]] tree with a straight cylindrical trunk, which can often reach a height of {{cvt|30|–|40|m}}, and occasionally {{cvt|50|m}}.{{R|WMIC|FOA|CONIFERS}} The trunk is usually about {{cvt|1.2|m}} [[diameter at breast height]] (DBH), but occasionally may reach {{cvt|3|m}}.{{R|WMIC}} The bark is orange-brown to grey-brown, smooth, but shedding in large flakes.{{R|FOA|CONIFERS|RFK|COOPER2}}

The [[Glossary of leaf morphology#linear|linear]]-[[Glossary of leaf morphology#elliptic|elliptic]] leaves are up to {{cvt|13|cm}} long and {{cvt|4|cm}} wide, with numerous fine parallel veins and no midrib.{{R|CONIFERS|RFK}} They are carried on [[Petiole (botany)|petioles]] measuring {{cvt|3|to|10|mm|sigfig=1}} and are arranged in opposite pairs (rarely whorls of three) on the stem.{{R|FOA|CONIFERS|RFK}}

The [[Glossary of botanical terms#globose|globose]], green [[conifer cone|seed cones]] measure {{cvt|8|–|13|cm}} diameter with up to 440 scales, and mature in 18–20 months after pollination.{{R|FOA|CONIFERS|RFK}} They disintegrate at maturity to release the seeds. The male (pollen) cones are cylindrical, {{cvt|5|–|10|cm}} long and {{cvt|9|mm|sigfig=1}} diameter.{{R|FOA|CONIFERS|RFK}}

==Taxonomy==
The Queensland kauri was first described as ''Dammara robusta'' in 1859 by the German-born Australian botanist [[Ferdinand von Mueller]] and published in the journal ''Quarterly Journal and Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria''. In 1883 the Colonial Botanist of Queensland [[Frederick Manson Bailey]] published a paper in which he gave the species its current binomial name ''Agathis robusta''.{{R|APNI|POWO}}

===Subspecies===
There are two recognised subspecies {{As of|2024|04|lc=y}}, namely:
* [[Agathis robusta subsp. nesophila|''Agathis robusta'' subsp. ''nesophila'']] <small>[[Timothy Charles Whitmore|Whitmore]]</small> which is restricted to eastern [[New Guinea]] and [[New Britain]]{{R|POWO2}}{{R|WHITMORE|p=64}}
* ''Agathis robusta'' ssp. ''robusta'', the [[Subspecies#Nominotypical subspecies and subspecies autonyms|autonymous]] subspecies, which is native to New Guinea and Queensland.{{R|POWO}}

===Etymology===
The genus name ''Agathis'' is from the Ancient Greek word [[wikt:ἀγαθίς|''ἀγαθίς'']] 'ball of thread', a reference to the appearance of the female cones.{{R|WMIC|COOPER2}} The [[Botanical name#Binary name|species epithet]] is derived from the Latin word [[wikt:robustus#Adjective|''rōbustus'']] meaning 'robust'.{{R|COOPER2}}

===Common names===
This species is most commonly known as 'Queensland kauri' or 'kauri pine', but alternative names include 'dundathu pine' (from the town of [[Dundathu, Queensland|Dundathu]] in southern Queensland), 'north Queensland kauri', 'south Queensland kauri' and 'smooth barked kauri'.{{R|DESQLD}}{{R|WHITMORE|p=63}}

== Distribution and habitat ==
''Agathis robusta'' occurs in three distinct locations — a southern population in southeast Queensland in the regions around [[Gympie]], [[Maryborough, Queensland|Maryborough]], and [[K'gari (Fraser Island)|K'gari]] (Fraser Island); another population in northeast Queensland in the regions from [[Ingham, Queensland|Ingham]] to [[Cooktown, Queensland|Cooktown]], including the [[Atherton Tableland]]s; and the third in [[New Guinea]].{{R|WMIC|AVH}} The north Queensland population was formerly recognised as ''Agathis palmerstonii'', but is now considered to be synonymous with the southern grouping.{{R|WHITMORE|p=63}}

The species grows in rainforest on well-drained soils of various types, at elevations up to {{cvt|1100|m}} and where the annual rainfall is between {{cvt|1100|and|2000|mm}}.{{R|WMIC|RFK}}{{R|WHITMORE|p=64}}

==Ecology==
The seeds of the Queensland kauri are eaten by [[sulphur-crested cockatoo]]s (''Cacatua galerita'').{{R|COOPER2}}

==Conservation==
''Agathis robusta'' is listed by both the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the [[IUCN]] as [[Least-concern species|least concern]]. However, the IUCN assessment states that the "subspecies in Papua New Guinea has been assessed as Vulnerable" due to ongoing, albeit limited, logging.{{R|DESQLD|IUCN}}

===Pests and diseases===
A number of [[Lepidoptera]] species utilise the Queensland kauri as a [[Host (biology)#Plant hosts of micropredators|host plant]], including ''[[Agathiphaga queenslandensis]]'', ''[[Heteropsyche poecilochroma]]'', ''[[Leipoxais rufobrunnea]]'', ''[[Darna nararia]]'', ''[[Orgyia australis]]'', ''[[Achaea janata]]'', and ''[[Lexias dirtea]]''.{{R|NHML}}

==Uses==
This tree produces a high quality timber, which was used for a variety of purposes, such as cabinetmaking, joinery, framing, and plywood. This led to it being heavily logged from the mid-19th century, with the result that the large stands of these trees, which were once common, are now gone, although many individual trees may still be found. Logging in north Queensland continued until the establishment of the [[Wet Tropics of Queensland]] World Heritage area in 1987.{{R|RFK|WMIC}}

==Cultivation==
State-owned plantations of kauri were established in both north and south Queensland in the first half of the 20th century and met with varying degrees of success; however, today little more than {{cvt|100|ha}} of plantation kauri exists.{{R|WMIC}}

More than 80 of these trees have been planted in the streets and parks of [[Cairns]].{{R|TREEPLOTTER}}

A long avenue of mature kauris, planted in the 1930s, are maintained at the heritage-listed North Queensland tourist attraction, [[Paronella Park]].{{cn|date=December 2024}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Agathis-robusta-SF23011-01-edit.jpg|Specimen in the [[Cairns Botanic Gardens]]
File:Agathis robusta, Peradeniya 01(js).jpg|Trunk
File:Agathis-robusta-SF23016-02.jpg|Near Freshwater Ck, [[Cairns]]
File:Agathis robusta kz8.jpg|Foliage
File:Agathis-robusta-SF22354-03.jpg|Female and male cones
File:Agathis-robusta-SF23003-01.jpg|Scales and seeds from female cone
File:Agathis robusta (Queensland Kauri) seedling II, by Omar Hoftun.jpg|Seedling
File:StateLibQld 1 109472 Charlie Ball and Jack Ring with a large log of Kauri pine.jpg|Harvesting kauri logs, circa 1912
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist |refs=
<ref name="DESQLD">{{cite web |url=https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=18040 |title=Species profile—''Agathis robusta'' |year=2022 |website=Queensland Department of Environment and Science |publisher=[[Queensland Government]] |access-date=20 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="IUCN">{{cite iucn |author=Thomas, P. |year=2024 |title=''Agathis robusta'' |volume=2024 |page=e.T16437966A150410996 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T16437966A150410996.en |access-date=22 April 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="APNI">{{cite web |url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/77769 |title=''Agathis robusta'' |website=[[Australian Plant Name Index]] (APNI) |publisher=Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, [[Australian Government]] |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="POWO">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:261672-1 |title=''Agathis robusta'' C.Moore ex F.Muell. |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="POWO2">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:874531-1 |title=''Agathis robusta'' subsp. ''nesophila'' Whitmore |website=[[Plants of the World Online]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="COOPER2">{{Cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Wendy |last2=Cooper |first2=William T. |author-link2=William T. Cooper |date=June 2004 |title=Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest |publication-place=Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia |publisher=Nokomis Editions |isbn=9780958174213 |url=https://www.nokomis.com.au/product/nokomis-published-books/fruits-australian-tropical-rainforest/ |page=4}}</ref>

<ref name="RFK">{{cite web |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Agathis_robusta.htm |title=''Agathis robusta'' |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |website=[[Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants]] Edition 8 (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), [[Australian Government]] |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="WMIC">{{cite web |title=Araucariaceae in Queensland |url=https://www.woodworksmuseum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Araucariaceae-in-Queensland-Web.pdf |website=Woodworks Museum & Interpretive Centre |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="CONIFERS">{{cite web |last1=Earle |first1=C.J. |title=Agathis robusta (Kauri pine) description |url=https://www.conifers.org/ar/Agathis_robusta.php |website=The Gymnosperm Database |publisher=C.J.Earle |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="FOA">{{cite web |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Agathis%20robusta |title=''Agathis robusta'' |last1=Hill |first1=K.D. |year=2020 |website=[[Flora of Australia]] |publisher=[[Australian Biological Resources Study]], Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="AVH">{{cite web |title=Search: species: Agathis robusta {{!}} Occurrence records {{!}} The Australasian Virtual Herbarium |url=https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Agathis%20robusta#tab_mapView |website=[[Australasian Virtual Herbarium]] |publisher=[[Australian Government]] |access-date=19 January 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="WHITMORE">{{cite journal |last1=Whitmore |first1=T.C. |title=A monograph of ''Agathis'' |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |date=1980 |volume=135 |issue=1–2 |pages=41–69 |doi=10.1007/BF00983006 |bibcode=1980PSyEv.135...41W }}</ref>

<ref name="NHML">{{cite web |title=HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants |url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/list.dsml?searchPageURL=index.dsml&Familyqtype=starts+with&Family=&PFamilyqtype=starts+with&PFamily=&Genusqtype=equals&Genus=&PGenusqtype=equals&PGenus=Agathis&Speciesqtype=starts+with&Species=&PSpeciesqtype=equals&PSpecies=robusta&Country=&sort=Family |website=[[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] |publisher=The Natural History Museum, London |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119104616/https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search/list.dsml?searchPageURL=index.dsml&Familyqtype=starts+with&Family=&PFamilyqtype=starts+with&PFamily=&Genusqtype=equals&Genus=&PGenusqtype=equals&PGenus=Agathis&Speciesqtype=starts+with&Species=&PSpeciesqtype=equals&PSpecies=robusta&Country=&sort=Family |archive-date=19 January 2023 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="TREEPLOTTER">{{cite web |title=TreePlotter |url=https://au.pg-cloud.com/Cairns/ |website=Cairns Regional Council's Street and Park Tree Database |access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
* [https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Agathis+robusta#tab_mapView View a map] of historical sightings of this species at the [[Australasian Virtual Herbarium]]
* [https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=135362 View observations] of this species on [[iNaturalist]]
* [https://flickriver.com/search/Agathis+robusta View images] of this species on [[Flickriver]]
* [http://www.conifers.org/ar/Agathis_robusta.php ''Agathis robusta''] at the Gymnosperm Database.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q144112}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Agathis|robusta]]
[[Category:Flora of the Bismarck Archipelago]]
[[Category:Flora of New Guinea]]
[[Category:Flora of Queensland]]
[[Category:Trees of Australia]]
[[Category:Pinales of Australia]]
[[Category:Least concern flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Least concern biota of Queensland]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1860]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Frederick Manson Bailey]]