Agathis lanceolata 070612-0649

Description:

Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Twig fallen from old tree in photo 0653. Immature pollen cones, may elongate somewhat yet. Note a remarkable feature visible here, namely that each cone (except the terminal one) is attached to the twig well above the leaf axil; one interpretation might be that the pedicel is fused to the twig. This feature is illustrated clearly though not mentioned in the species' description in De Laubefels's excellent treatment of New Caledonian gymnosperms. It may be unique to this species.