Celery Top Pine
It is endemic to Tasmania and is found in most high rainfall areas of the island, extending from sea level to tree line. It is the only Australian species of this genus, but other species occur in New Zealand, New Guinea and South-east Asia.
The genus is unique among conifers in having the branchlets (complete with leaves) flattened into photosynthetic phylloclades. These can be divided or lobed to varying degrees.The seedlings have needle leaves. The branches spread widely and tend to curve upwards towards the ends.
It grows very slowly, and trees with a 60 cm diameter are around 400 years old.
''Phyllocladus aspleniifolius'', commonly known as the celery-top pine, is an endemic gymnosperm of Tasmania, Australia. It is found in rainforest as a dominant, in eucalypt forest as an understorey species, and occurs occasionally as a shrub in alpine vegetation. It is confined to areas of high rainfall and low fire frequency.
It is a medium-sized evergreen coniferous tree, growing to 20 m tall . The leaves are minute, brown and scale-like, less than 1 mm long, and sparsely produced;.. more
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