Actinostrobus acuminatus

Actinostrobus acuminatus
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Cupressales
Family:	Cupressaceae
Genus:	Actinostrobus
Species:	A. acuminatus
Binomial name
Actinostrobus acuminatus Parl.
Synonyms
Callitris acuminata (Parl.) F.Muell.

Actinostrobus acuminatus, commonly known as dwarf cypress, creeping pine or Moore cypress pine, is a species of coniferous tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress family). Like the other species in the genus Actinostrobus, it is endemic to southwestern Western Australia, where it can be found along the shorelines of rivers. The Mount Henry Peninsula is an example of the environment in which this cypress is found. It shares the common name dwarf cypress with several other plants, and shares the name creeping pine with others.

It is a shrub or small tree, reaching 1–4.5 m tall. The leaves are evergreen and mixed scale-like and needle-like, except on young seedlings, where they are all needle-like. The leaves are arranged in six rows along the twigs, in alternating whorls of three; the scale leaves are 2–4 mm long, the needle leaves 10–20 mm long. The male cones are small, 3–6 mm long, and are located at the tips of the twigs. The female cones start out similarly inconspicuous, but mature in 18–20 months to 15–20 mm long, with a pointed apex.

References

• Farjon, A. (2005). Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4.