Agathis corbassonii

de Laub. 1969

Common names

Kaori rouge, Corbasson kauri.

Taxonomic notes

Farjon (2010) places this species into synonymy with Agathis moorei, contending that the two taxa have overlapping traits. On the other hand, Whitmore (1980) states "this species belongs to the major group of eight species which have the microsporophyll head rounded to spatulate. Thus it is abundantly distinct from A. moorei with which it was formerly confused, and that differs also in ecology." There has been one analysis using molecular methods, which placed A. moorei and A. corbassonii on different branches within the Agathis clade (Leslie et al. 2012); nonetheless, further molecular analysis would be desirable. Available evidence at this time indicates the two taxa are distinct.

Description

Tree. Bark tan to red-brown, resinous, scaly. Juvenile leaves lanceolate, 10-11 cm long by 1.6-2 cm wide. Buds yellowish, 4 mm long, scales finely denticulate. Adult leaves linear, willow-like, oval, obtuse, 45-70 mm long by 6-11 mm wide, glaucous below, with a long petiole. Male cones cylindrical, 25-50 mm long by 6-10 mm wide; microsporophylls strongly imbricate, edges serrulate; anthers 4. Female cone obovate, to 10 cm long, with broad, round scales without a lip or umbo. Seeds with an oblong nut 15 mm long by 10 mm wide, one wing short and one oval to 20 mm long by 15 mm wide (Silba 1986).

Distribution and Ecology

New Caledonia: N and C areas, type near Me Aoui, 300-700 m (Silba 1986).

The conservation status of this species has not been assessed by the IUCN, which regards it as synonymous with Agathis moorei. That species is assessed as "Vulnerable" with a declining population trend. Since that assessment conflates two distinct species, the finding is optimistic for each species, and their status is worse than indicated by the assessment.

The WCMC found that "this species is scattered in areas of lowland moist forest on non-ultramafic substrates. It is exploited for its timber, most heavily at a local level."

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.02.22.

Ethnobotany

No data as of 2023.02.22.

Observations

No data as of 2023.02.22.

Remarks

There seems to be a quid pro quo in the naming of this species. Corbasson described Araucaria laubenfelsii in 1968, and de Laubenfels described Agathis corbassonii in 1969.

Citations

Laubenfels, D.J. de. 1969. Trav. Lab. Forest. Toulouse 1, 8(5):2.

See also