Tasmanian Wilderness: Pencil Pine & King Billy Pine

Pencil Pine at Pine Lake

Kingdom: Planae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinalea
Family: Cupressaceae
Genus: Athrotaxis

The Genus

Athrotaxis is a Genes of 2-3 species, all are endemic to Tasmania and threatened by fire but logging, sheep, and rabbits have also effected the population. They may reach ages of greater than 1200 years and are generally found above 800m around highland lakes and tarns. The common names of the 2 species are Pencil Pine and King Billy Pine with the third species also called King Billy Pine although they are not members of the Pine family.

Pencil Pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides)

Pencil Pine at Pine Lake, above Great Lake

The Pencil Pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides) is found at 700–1,300m altitude, more commonly seen around 1000m-1300m.

A large proportion of the species' range was severely affected by major fires in 1960–1961.

King Billy pine (Athrotaxis selaginoides)

King Billy Pine at Lake Osborne, Hartz Mt NP

The King Billy pine (Athrotaxis selaginoides) is also called King William Pine. The species is restricted to regions above 600 m where it grows in highland rainforest and reaches a height of 40 m. A huge one-third of the State's King Billy pines have been eliminated by fire.

King Billy Pine (Athrotaxis laxifolia)

This species grows at 1000 - 1200m, with little known about the plant and it is strongly suspected of being a natural hybrid between the other two species; however, genetic evidence for this is inconclusive.

Where to see Pencil Pine?

King Billy Pine near Woodland Walk, Mt Field

A great place to see Pencil Pine is Pine Lake. Other good spots are Lake Dodson.
Pencil Pine Falls, and the Tarn Shelf. This species is rare on the southern mountains.

Where to see King Billy Pine?

A great place to see King Billy Pine is at Lake Osborne in Hartz Mountains National Park. Another good spot is the Woodland Walk at Mt Field National Park.

Where to see Athrotaxis laxifolia?

The only places that I heard where to find this species is on the Overland
Track, and the Tarn Shelf.