Dacrydium nausoriense
"The species of Dacrydium with sharp scale-leaves, changing abruptly from juvenile to adult form (D. elatum and D. novoguineense stand apart from the other species, with D. nausoriensis representing a somewhat transitional position). The abrupt change from fine juvenile leaves to the more robust and very short adult leaves is in accord with the scale-leaved species, while the still spreading orientation is the common condition for other species. Occasional specimens of D. elatum and of D. novoguineense have transitional leaves abruptly marked off from the juvenile leaves and closely resembling the adult leaves of D. nausoriensis. The bark of this new species is virtually the same as in all other species of the group, with large thick flakes, fibrous and brown within but with a tough smooth surface generally well supplied with lenticels and weathering gray. The seeds are also of the usual type showing a slight marginal keel and becoming a rich brown color. The pollen cones seen may not be fully grown" (de Laubenfels 1969).
Fiji: at elevations of 455 ± 367 m. Within its range, mean annual temperature is 23.0°C, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 18.5°C, and a mean annual precipitation of 2624 mm (Biffin et al. 2011, Table S5).
Found "in slightly open forest on the leeward sides of the large islands of Fiji and apparently of limited extent" (de Laubenfels 1969). Cited collections include Viti Levu: Nausori Highlands at 580 m and Vanua Levu: Lambassa, Sarava at 120 m elevation (de Laubenfels 1969).
The IUCN reports that this species is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future, due to recent and ongoing exploitation and habitat loss within a range that is already severely fragmented, with total population size estimated at fewer than 2,500 mature plants.
No data as of 2023.02.21.
No data as of 2023.02.21.
No data as of 2023.02.21.
The epithet refers to the type locality, the Nausori Highlands on Viti Levu, Fiji.
Laubenfels, D. J. de. 1969. A revision of the Malesian and Pacific rainforest conifers, I. Podocarpaceae, in part. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 50:287-289. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2022.12.24.
The species account at Threatened Conifers of the World.
Last Modified 2023-02-26
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