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ARAUCARIA

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Originally appearing in Volume V02, Page 322 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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ARAUCARIA , a genus of coniferous trees included in the tribe Araucarineae. They are magnificent See also:

evergreen trees, with apparently whorled branches, and stiff, flattened, pointed leaves, found in See also:Brazil and See also:Chile, See also:Polynesia and See also:Australia. The name of the genus is derived from See also:Arauco, the name of the See also:district in See also:southern Chile where the trees were first discovered. Araucaria imbricata, the Chile See also:pine, or " See also:monkey See also:puzzle," was introduced into See also:Britain in 1796. It is largely cultivated, and usually stands the See also:winter of Britain; but in some years, when the temperature See also:fell very See also:low, the trees have suffered much. Care should be taken in planting to select a spot somewhat elevated and well drained. The See also:tree grows to the height of 150 ft. in the Cordilleras of Chile. The cones are from 8 to 82 in. broad, and 7 to 7z in. See also:long. The See also:wood of the tree is hard and durable. This is the only See also:species which can be cultivated in the open See also:air in Britain. Araucaria brasiliana, the Brazil pine, is a native of the mountains of southern Brazil, and was introduced into Britain in 1819. It is not so See also:hardy as A. imbricata, and requires See also:protection during winter.

It is grown in conservatories for See also:

half-hardy See also:plants. Araucaria excelsa, the See also:Norfolk See also:Island pine, a native of Norfolk Island and New See also:Caledonia, was discovered during See also:Captain See also:Cook's second voyage, and introduced into Britain by See also:Sir See also:Joseph See also:Banks in 1793. It cannot be grown in the open air in Britain, as it requires protection from See also:frost, and is more See also:tender than the Brazilian pine. It is a majestic tree, sometimes attaining a height of more than 220 ft. The scales of its cones are winged, and have a See also:hook at the See also:apex. Araucaria Cunninghami, the Moreton See also:Bay pine, is a tall tree abundant on the shores of Moreton Bay, Australia, and found through the littoral region of See also:Queensland to Cape See also:York See also:Peninsula, also in New See also:Guinea. It requires protection in See also:England during the winter. Araucaria Bidwilli, the Bunya-Bunya pine, found on the mountains of southern Queensland, between the See also:rivers See also:Brisbane and See also:Burnett, at 27° S. See also:lat., is a See also:noble tree, attaining a height of too to 150 ft., with a straight See also:trunk and See also:white wood. It bears cones as large as a See also:man's See also:head. Its seeds are very large, and are used as See also:food by the natives. Araucaria Rulei, which is a tree of New Caledonia, attains a height of 50 or 6o ft. Araucaria Cookii, also a native of New Caledonia, attains a height of 150 ft.

It is found also in the Isle of Pines, and in the New See also:

Hebrides. The tree has a remarkable See also:appearance, due to shedding its See also:primary branches for about five-sixths of its height and replacing them by a small bushy growth, the whole resembling a tall See also:column crowned with foliage, suggesting to its discoverer, Captain Cook, a tall column of See also:basalt.

End of Article: ARAUCARIA

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