Retrophyllum rospigliosii

Botanical Description

Retrophyllum rospigliosii is an evergreen tree with an oval crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The bole can be 40cm in diameter, usually branching from above 3 metres[ 329 Title The Gymnosperm Database Publication Author Website http://www.conifers.org/index.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms. , 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. A valuable timber tree, it is commonly harvested from the wild for commercial use. Although this timber tree species has relatively a broad distribution in tropical South America it has been under much pressure from logging during the last 50-60 years. There is evidence that many of the formerly quite extensive stands have now either disappeared or been considerably reduced; this is certainly the case in Peru which once contained some of the most important stands of this species. It is estimated that there has been at least 30% global loss within the last three generations (here a generation length of 25-30 years seems to be reasonable for this species). A continuing decline is highly likely but very difficult to quantify. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].