Araucarias
What are they?
The araucarias are a fascinating family of trees that have been around since at least the time of the dinosaurs. A number of species are found scattered through the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Southern Hemisphere, where their fragmented distribution on either side of the Pacific Ocean (South America and parts of Australasia) gives an insight into how the continents have drifted apart since the ancestral origins of these trees. Most species are too tender for the UK climate and only one is regularly seen out of doos here, but Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is occasionally seen as a garden ornamental.
Where are they found?
Our single species is very popular as a garden curiosity and just very occasionally may be found persisting where planted on larger estates, woodland edge and municipal areas.
Identification
Easily told from all other trees in our area - see species notes below.
Monkey-puzzle Araucaria araucana
(Chile Pine) Introduced from southern South America. Popular as a garden ornamental and just occasionally found in shelterbelts and large estates. Easily identified by its 'cat-tail', slightly pendulous branches that are covered by broadly overlapping, viciously spiny leaves. Young trees have branches down to the ground, but older trees have bare trunks with dead, older branches persisting for many years before dropping off. Male and female cones are carried on separate trees; the female cones are spectacular, rich rufous-brown and up to 20cm across.
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