Araucaria angustifolia
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Araucaria angustifolia (Portuguese: Pinheiro-do-Paraná, Spanish: Pino Paraná) is a species in the conifer genus Araucaria. It is native to southern Brazil (Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande Do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo), locally in Paraguay (Alto Paraná) and the extreme northeast of Argentina (Misiones), growing in low mountains at altitudes of 500-1800 m.
It is an evergreen tree growing to 40 m tall and 1 m trunk diameter. The leaves are thick, tough and scale like, triangular, 3-6 cm long, 5-10 mm broad at the base, and with razor-sharp edges and tip. They persist for 10-15 years, so cover most of the tree except for the older branches.
It is usually dioecious, with the male and female cones on separate trees. The male (pollen) cones are oblong, 4 cm long at first, expanding to 10-18 cm long by 15-25 mm broad at pollen release. Like all conifers it is wind pollinated. The female (seed) cones, which mature in autumn about 18 months after pollination, are globose, large, 18-25 cm diameter, and hold about 100-150 seeds. The cones disintegrate at maturity to release the 5 cm long nut-like seeds, which are then dispersed by the Azure Jay Cyanocorax caeruleus.
It is closely related to Araucaria araucana from further southwest in South America, differing most conspicuously in the narrower leaves.
It prefers well drained, slightly acidic soil but will tolerate almost any soil type provided drainage is good. They prefer temperate cimates with abundant rainfall, tolerating temperatures down to about -8°C. It is a popular garden tree in subtropical areas, planted for its unusual effect of the thick, 'reptilian' branches with a very symmetrical appearance.
The seeds, similar to large pine nuts, are edible, and are extensively harvested in Brazil, particularly by Native American people. The wood is also widely used, under the confusing name "Paraná pine" (it is not a pine).
References
- Farjon (2006). [Araucaria angustifolia]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is critically endangered
- [Gymnosperm Database: Araucaria angustifolia]
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