Araucaria 324257 224573954 2008-07-09T14:04:49Z Xvazquez 3727351 image {{Two other uses||the crossword compiler|John Galbraith Graham|the city in Brazil|Araucária}} {{Taxobox | fossil_range = {{fossil range|250}}[[Jurassic]]{{Verify source|date=September 2007}} - recent | name = ''Araucaria'' | image = Araucaria columnaris1.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = ''Araucaria columnaris'' | regnum = [[Plantae]] | divisio = [[Pinophyta]] | classis = [[Pinophyta|Pinopsida]] | ordo = [[Pinales]] | familia = [[Araucariaceae]] | genus = '''''Araucaria''''' | genus_authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text. }} '''''Araucaria''''' is a [[genus]] of [[evergreen]] [[Pinophyta|coniferous]] [[tree]]s in the family [[Araucariaceae]]. There are 19 [[species]] in the genus, with a highly disjunct distribution in [[New Caledonia]] (where 13 species are [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]]), [[Norfolk Island]], eastern [[Australia]], [[New Guinea]], [[Argentina]], [[Chile]], and southern [[Brazil]]. ==Description== Araucaria are mainly large trees with a massive erect stem, reaching a height of 30-80 m. The horizontal, spreading branches grow in whorls and are covered with leathery or needle-like [[leaf|leaves]]. In some species, the leaves are narrow awl-shaped and lanceolate, barely overlapping each other, in others they are broad and flat, and overlap broadly. The trees are mostly [[Plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female [[Conifer cone|cones]] found on separate trees, though occasional individuals are [[Plant sexuality|monoecious]] or change sex with time. The female cones, usually high on the top of the tree, are globose, and vary in size between species from 7-25 cm diameter. They contain 80-200 large, edible seeds, similar to [[pine nut]]s though larger. The male cones are smaller, 4-10 cm long, and narrow to broad cylindrical, 1.5-5 cm broad. ==Distribution== Many if not all current populations are relictual and restricted. They are found in [[forest]] and [[maquis shrubland]], with an affinity for exposed sites. These columnar trees are [[living fossil]]s, dating back to early in the [[Mesozoic]] age. [[Fossil]] records show that the genus also formerly occurred in the northern hemisphere until the end of the [[Cretaceous]] period. ==Uses== Some of the species are relatively common in cultivation because of their distinctive, formal symmetrical growth habit. Several species are economically important for [[timber]] production and the edible seeds. ==Etymology of name== The genus is familiar to many people as the genus of the distinctive [[Araucaria araucana|Monkey-puzzle]] ''Araucaria araucana''. The genus is named after the [[Mapuche|Arauco Indian]]s of central [[Chile]] and south-west [[Argentina]] whose territory incorporates natural stands of this species, where it is known as the '''Pehuén'''. These [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]], who name themselves the Pehuenche ('people of the Pehuén'), harvest the seeds extensively for food. No distinct vernacular name exists for the genus; many are erroneously called 'pine', despite their being only very distantly related to [[pine]]s (''Pinus''). ==Classification and species list== [[Image:Petrified Araucaria cone from patagonia-Edit3.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Petrified cone of ''Araucaria'' sp. from [[Patagonia]], [[Argentina]] dating from the [[Jurassic|Jurassic Period]] (approx. 210 mya)]] There are two sections in the genus, sometimes treated as separate genera: *'''Section ''Araucaria''.''' Leaves broad; cones more than 12cm diameter; seed germination [[hypogeal]]. Syn. sect. ''Columbea''; sometimes subdivided into three sections or subsections. ** ''[[Araucaria angustifolia]]''. Paraná Pine (obsolete: Brazilian Pine, Candelabra Tree). Southeastern Brazil, northeastern Argentina. ** ''[[Araucaria araucana]]''. Monkey-puzzle or Pehuén (obsolete: Chile Pine). Central Chile & western Argentina. ** ''[[Araucaria bidwillii]]''. Bunya-bunya. Eastern Australia (sometimes placed in sect. ''Bunya''). ** ''[[Araucaria hunsteinii]]''. Klinki. New Guinea (sometimes placed in sect. ''Intermedia''). *'''Section ''Eutacta''.''' Leaves narrow, awl-like; cones less than 12cm diameter; seed germination [[epigeal]]. See the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh web site for New Caledonian Araucaria research http://www.rbge.org.uk/rbge/web/science/research/biodiversity/arauc.jsp ** ''[[Araucaria bernieri]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria biramulata]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria columnaris]]''. Cook Pine. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria cunninghamii]]''. Moreton Bay Pine, Hoop Pine. Eastern Australia, New Guinea. ** ''[[Araucaria heterophylla]]''. Norfolk Island Pine. Norfolk Island. ** ''[[Araucaria humboldtensis]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria laubenfelsii]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria luxurians]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria montana]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria muelleri]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria nemorosa]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria rulei]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria schmidii]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria scopulorum]]''. New Caledonia. ** ''[[Araucaria subulata]]''. New Caledonia. ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:araucaria_araucana_vieja.jpg|''Araucaria '' Image:Araucaria.columnaris2web.jpg|''Araucaria columnaris'' branch Image:araucaria_araucana_pulmari.jpg|''Araucaria araucana'' natural environment Image:Araucaria araucana Lanin.jpg|''Araucaria araucana'' growing around a lake [[Neuquén, Argentina]] Image:Araucaria araucana cones.jpg|''Araucaria araucana'' with seed cones Image:araucaria_araucana_playa.jpg|''Araucaria araucana'' Image:Araucaria.JPG|Mature Araucaria tree (''A. bidwillii'') as an exotic ornamental tree in [[Valparaiso, Chile]] Image:Aa 2006 05 10 araucaria sapling.jpg|''Araucaria araucana'' sapling in [[Chester Zoo]] Image:araucaria_araucana_verde.jpg|''Araucaria '' view from above Image:Three_araucarias.jpg|Three different members of the genus growing together - left to right, ''A. columnaris'', ''A. cunninghamii'' and ''A. bidwillii'' Image:Araucaria araucana Lanin3.jpg|''Araucaria araucana'' very old Image:Araucaria mirabilis.JPG|Fossil branch and cones of ''Araucaria mirabilis'' </gallery> == External links == {{Commons|Araucaria}} * [http://www.conifers.org/ar/ar/index.html Gymnosperm Database: ''Araucaria''] * [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/Araucaria/Index.html ''Araucaria Research''] * [http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo705763.htm Some of the tallest Araucaria Angustifolia, Heterophylla and Columnaris in the northern hemisphere, stand side by side at Furnas, Azores Islands]. * [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana?uselang=de''Div. Araucaria Araucana Trees''] == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Araucariaceae]] [[Category:Flora of Argentina]] [[Category:Pinales of Australia]] [[Category:Flora of Chile]] [[Category:Flora of New Caledonia]] [[cs:Blahočet]] [[da:Abeskræk-slægten]] [[de:Araukarien]] [[es:Araucaria]] [[fr:Araucaria]] [[it:Araucaria]] [[ka:არაუკარია]] [[lt:Araukarija]] [[nl:Araucaria]] [[pl:Igława]] [[pt:Araucária]] [[ro:Araucária]] [[ru:Араукария]] [[fi:Araukariat]] [[tr:Araucaria]] [[uk:Араукарія]] [[zh:南洋杉属]]