Four subspecies are recognized. The type tree, subspecies  globulus, is largely confined to the southeast coast of Tasmania  but also grows in small pockets on the west coast of Tasmania, on  islands in the Bass Strait north of Tasmania, and on Cape Otway  and Wilson's Promontory in southern Victoria, Australia (9).  Other subspecies are found northward in Victoria and New South  Wales (13).

    The species was introduced into California in 1856 (1) and into  Hawaii about 1865 (18) and has become naturalized in both States.  It is also fairly common as an ornamental in Arizona but is not  naturalized there. In California, it is now primarily used in  line plantings along roads and as windbreaks, but formerly,  extensive plantations were established. Plantings total about 16  000 ha (40,000 acres) (17). The planted range in California  extends from Humboldt County in the north to San Diego County in  the south, with best growth in the coastal fog belt in the  vicinity of San Francisco. Numerous plantings are seen in the  Central Valley from Redding, south through Fresno to Bakersfield,  and San Bernardino. Hawaii has about 5000 ha (12,000  acres)-almost all of them on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. In  California and Hawaii the tree regenerates within and near the  edges of plantations. In some areas of Hawaii it spreads fast  enough to be considered a pest by ranchers.

    Recently, the species has also been planted in its native Tasmania  where it is an important pulpwood source (22).