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Agathis robusta
I found this amazing cone by the roadside, but had no idea what species of tree it came from. It had me baffled for quite some time, but it turns out this is from Agathis robusta, commonly known as the "Queensland kauri pine" or "smooth-barked kauri", a coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae, and also an Australian native. "It is a large evergreen tree growing straight and tall to a height of 30–50 m, with smooth, scaly bark.... The female (seed) cones are globose, 8–13 cm diameter, and mature in 18–20 months after pollination; they disintegrate at maturity to release the seeds. The male (pollen) cones are cylindrical, 5–10 cm long and 1-1.5 cm thick." (Wikipedia) Fresh specimens are a beautiful lime green colour, but as they age and dry out, brown and darkish red are the predominant colours. The detail and layered texture of these cones is fantasic! PS: At the time, I was unable to locate the tree that this cone had fallen from, and there was nothing nearby that was a likely candidate. However, I have since learned that kauri cones are a favourite food of cockatoos, and they are known to carry them off in flight... and drop them too! Cockies frequent the area, so that offers at least one feasible explanation of how this cone may have arrived at the spotting location.
Spotted at the Metroplex on Gateway estate, Murarrie, Brisbane. Agathis robusta is endemic to two locations in Queensland - a southern population on Fraser Island and around Maryborough, and a northern population on the Atherton Tableland to the west of Cairns.
Many thanks to the good people at the "Queensland Plant Identification" group on Facebook, for their assistance to ID this spotting.
Spotted on Jan 24, 2019
Submitted on Jun 2, 2020
4 Comments
They certainly are! They cones look like they've been woven.
amazing!
I doubt as tasty as bunya nuts, but the cockies might have their own preference.
Yum.