Diselma archeri (chestnut pine) description

Foliage on an ornamental specimen [C.J. Earle, 1999.05].

Distribution map (Brown et al. 1983). The side of each square measures 10 km. A blue square indicates arboretum collections; a green square denotes a written record. You can also create a highly detailed map, and access specimen data, using the "search" function at the Australia Virtual Herbarium.

Diselma archeri

Hooker f. 1857

Common names

Chestnut pine (Farjon 2005).

Taxonomic notes

The sole species in Diselma Hooker 1857. Syn: Fitzroya archeri Bentham et Hooker (Vidakovic 1991). Lectotype R.C. Gunn s.n., "summit of the western mountains and falls of Meander," 1849.03.09, K.

Description

A dioecious shrub or small tree, 1-5-6 m tall, variously of compact or straggling habit, branchlets divided into fine sprays. Leaves scale-like, closely pressed and overlapping, alternately opposite or sometimes whorled, blunt at the apex. Male cones terminal, oblong, with the stamens in 3 or 4 pairs. Female cones terminal, solitary, small, globose, 5 mm across, composed of two pairs of scales, the upper pair fertile, with 2 seeds. Seeds small, with 2-3 wings. Chromosomes n = 11 (Dallimore et al. 1967, Vidakovic 1991).

This species can be confused with Microcachrys tetragona and Pherosphaera hookeriana, two Tasmanian podocarps that are also shrubs with very small scale-like leaves. However, the female cones, although small, are easily distinguished.

Distribution and Ecology

Tasmania: the western coast ranges and Lake St. Clair, at elevations of 910-1220 m (Dallimore et al. 1967). Hardy to Zone 8 (cold hardiness limit between -12.1°C and -6.7°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001).

Big tree

It is reported to grow as a tree, at sizes up to over 10 m tall and 60 cm dbh, at Mount Read near Roseberry (Corbett [no date]).

Oldest

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

Citations

Brown, M.J., J.B. Kirkpatrick and A. Moscal. 1983. An atlas of Tasmania's endemic flora. Tasmania Conservation Trust, 102, Bathurst Street, Hobart 7000, Tasmania. 110pp. ISBN 0959981683.

Corbett, Keith. [no date]. The Mount Read Huon Pine. www.apstas.com/Mt__Read_Huon_pine.html, accessed 2010.03.29.