Common Name: New Guinea Kauri

General Information

Agathis labillardieri is an evergreen tree growing up to 60 metres tall[]. The straight, cylindrical bole is unbuttressed, it can be more than 200cm in diameter[].
One of the most important timbers in New Guinea, the tree is also widely exploited as a source of Manila copal (papeda), which is a component of varnish and road paints. Commonly harvested from the wild, the tree is also sometimes cultivated[, ].
The extent of occurrence is well beyond the threshold for a threatened category. The area of occupancy, based on the known distribution of herbarium specimen-based locality data, is incomplete but estimated to be around 3,200 km², which is beyond the threshold for Vulnerable but places the species, under inference of continuing decline due to widespread logging. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - eastern Indonesia to Papua New Guinea.

Habitat

An emergent tree of rainforests in mountainous areas, sometimes forming pure stands, it is found at elevations of 200 - 1700 metres, most commonly on sandy, poorly to well drained oligotrophic, somewhat podzolized soils[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	50.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 32°c, but can tolerate 12 - 40°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,500 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 1,500 - 5,000mm[].
Young plants grow better in the shelter and shade of the woodland, but require increasing amounts of light as they grow larger[]. Found on a range of soils in the wild, but especially on sandy, poorly to well drained oligotrophic, somewhat podzolized soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[].
Annual height growth may be in the range of 50 - 150cm[].
Maximum age of trees is unknown, but possibly several hundred years[].
Annual yield of large trees can be 10 - 20 kg of resin per tree[].
Boles smaller than 25cm in diameter should not be tapped[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The tree is tapped for its resin, known as Manila copal (papeda). This is used as a component of varnishes and lacquers, and is used in road paints[, ].
Agathis species in general yield a high quality resin, often known as Manila Copal. The resins obtained from Agathis borneensis, Agathis dammara, Agathis lanceolata, Agathis macrophylla and Agathis philippinensis are the most important commercially, but all members of the genus yield usuable quantities.
The resin is obtained in three forms. Firstly, it naturally exudes from the bark, branches, cones etc of the tree, especially as a result of any damage - some of these exudations can weigh as much as 20 kilos. The second form, known as fossil resin, is dug up from the ground - some of this resin can be of fairly recent origin (perhaps secreted by the roots of trees that have been felled, but much of it can be up to 50,000 years old, perhaps formed on a tree that fell naturally and was then gradually buried. The third form of resin is harvested by tapping the tree, though this can easily damage the tree and lead to premature death.
The resin has a range of applications. Traditionally it has been used as a fuel for camp fires, as a torch, as a waterproofing on boats, as a medicine, the smoke from the burning resin is used as a black dye and for tatooing. The resin is used commercially in making high quality varnishes, lacquers, linoleum[].

The heartwood is a pale cream, golden brown, to dark reddish or yellowish brown if resinous; it is usually not distinct from the sapwood[]. The wood is lustrous; the grain mainly straight; texture fine and uniform; generally without distinctive odour or taste[]. It is generally not durable, vulnerable to termite attack and prone to blue stain[]. It works easily with hand and machine tools, finishes with a clean smooth surface; has good nailing and screwing properties; good veneer peeling characteristics; paints and polishes well; easy to glue[]. It is used for a range of purposes, including vats and tanks, patternmaking, millwork, boatbuilding, furniture components, face veneers, shingles and pencil slats[]. A major source of timber, it can also be used for paperpulp and plywood[].

Propagation

Seed - it cannot tolerate desiccation and does not store for much more than 2 months in normal conditions. It does not require pre-treatment. Sowing is done with the wing part of the seed pointing upwards and 66% of the seed buried in the soil. Germination commences within 6 days, with 90 - 100% germination rates within 10 days[].
Cuttings of leading shoots[].

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