Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.)
Araucaria
Scientific name: Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.)
Family: Araucariaceae
Origin: Australia
Year planted: 1973
Flowering: June – July
Araucaria heterophylla
Description
It is a tree that belongs to the conifers (pines, firs, cypresses…). Its crown ends in a point, it is not rounded.
It can reach a height of 65 metres, but wild specimens rarely exceed 25 metres.
The branches grow very open, almost perpendicular to the trunk, and form more or less regular levels.
The young leaves are needle-shaped, like those of the pine, but are soft and bright green. As adults, they become shiny dark green and prickly. This is why this tree is called heterophylla, which means different leaves.
The flowers are borne in clusters (inflorescence). The male flowers are small brown cones; the female flowers are cones similar to pine cones, much larger and green in colour. When these cones mature, they turn brown and open to disperse the seeds.
Marimurtra’s specimen
You can find it on the araucaria trail. It is a young specimen, 12 metres high and 5 metres wide. It was planted in 1973 next to Araucaria bidwillii.
This way you can compare the two species.
Did you know…?
It is an apparently dioecious species (with male and female specimens), because it produces both male and female flowers. But it never does so at the same time: some years the flowers are male, and others female.
Its wood is widely used to make furniture and the seeds are edible.
Threat level (UICN)
Main uses
Raunkiaer Life Forms
