Lagarostrobos franklinii — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Wood Oil - flavouring

The wood is the source of Huon pinewood oil, an essential oil recommended for producing vanillin, which can be used as a flavouring in ice creams, confectionery, and beverages. The oil is typically obtained by steam distillation of the wood.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It needs a cool climate and a moist, well drained soil. Arboretum Tasmania.

Asia, Australia*, Malaysia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Pacific, SE Asia, Tasmania*,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Fiji, Micronesia, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Nepal, Nauru, New Zealand, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Palau, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Vanuatu, Samoa, Yemen

How to Identify

A tree. It is a pyramid shape and grows 20-30 m all. The leaves are very small and tightly clasp the stems. They overlap. They are light green and 1-2 mm long. Trees are separately male and female. The small cones are at the ends of branches. The female cones are at right angles to the stem.

How to Grow

Plants can be grown from fresh seed, tip cuttings or by layering.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in freely draining compost. Germination usually occurs within 1–3 months at 20°C. One account suggests the seed can be very slow to germinate and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe; stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible.

Medicinal Uses

No medicinal uses are known for this plant.

Other Uses

The essential oil is also used in medicinal soaps, toilet water, and as a preservative in casein paints. The wood is fairly hard, straight-grained, light, soft, strong, and aromatic. It is very durable, containing a strongly scented resin that repels insects, and is used for construction and furniture.

Production

It is very slow growing.

Names & Synonyms

Macquarie pine

Dacrydium franklinii Hook.f.Lepidothamnus franklinii (Hook.f.) Quinn

References (8)

Austral. J. Bot. 30:316. 1982
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 184
Ryan, S., 2008, Dicksonia. Rare Plants Manual. Hyland House. p 66
Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 133 (As Dacrydium franklinii)
Tanaka,
Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 93
Uphof,
Whiting, J., et al, 2004, Tasmania's Natural Flora. Tasmania's natural Flora Editorial Committee, PO Box 194, Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia, 7315. p 10