1. Description

2. Distribution and paleoecology

3. Classification and species list

4. Uses
    Food{{anchor|Nuts}}  Pharmacological activity 

5. See also

6. References

7. External links

Araucaria ({{IPAc-en|pron|æ|r|ɔː|ˈ|k|ɛər|i|ə}}; original pronunciation: [a.ɾawˈka. ɾja])^[4] is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae. There are 20 extant species in New Caledonia (where 14 species are endemic, see New Caledonian Araucaria), Norfolk Island, eastern Australia, New Guinea, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and northern Uruguay.

Description

The trees are mostly dioecious, with male and female cones found on separate trees,^[5] though occasional individuals are monoecious or change sex with time.^[6] The female cones, usually high on the top of the tree, are globose, and vary in size among species from {{convert|7|to|25|cm}} diameter. They contain 80–200 large edible seeds, similar to pine nuts, though larger. The male cones are smaller, {{convert|4|-|10|cm|abbr=on}} long, and narrow to broad cylindrical, {{convert|1.5|-|5.0|cm|abbr=on|1}} broad.

The genus is familiar to many people as the genus of the distinctive Chilean pine or monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana). The genus is named after the Spanish exonym Araucano ("from Arauco") applied to the Mapuches of central Chile and south-west Argentina, whose territory incorporates natural stands of this genus. The Mapuche people call it {{lang|arn|pehuén}}, and consider it sacred.^[5] Some Mapuches living in the Andes name themselves {{lang|arn|Pehuenches}} ("people of the {{lang|arn|pehuén}}") as they traditionally harvested the seeds extensively for food.^[7][8]

No distinct vernacular name exists for the genus. Many are called "pine", although they are only distantly related to true pines, in the genus Pinus.

Distribution and paleoecology

Members of Araucaria are found in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Australia, and New Guinea. There is also a significant, naturalized population of Araucaria columnaris – "Cook's pine" – on the island of Lanai, in Hawaii, USA.^[9] Many if not all current populations are relicts, and of restricted distribution. They are found in forest and maquis shrubland, with an affinity for exposed sites. These columnar trees are living fossils, 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.

By far the greatest diversity exists in New Caledonia, due to the island's long isolation and stability.^[10] Much of New Caledonia is composed of ultramafic rock with serpentine soils, with low levels of nutrients, but high levels of metals such as nickel.^[11] Consequently, its endemic Araucaria species are adapted to these conditions, and many species have been severely affected by nickel mining in New Caledonia and are now considered threatened or endangered, due to their habitat lying in prime areas for nickel mining activities.

There is evidence to suggest that the long necks of sauropod dinosaurs may have evolved specifically to browse the foliage of the typically very tall Araucaria trees. The global distribution of vast forests of Araucaria during the Jurassic makes it likely that they were the major high energy food source for adult sauropods.^[12]

Classification and species list

There are four extant sections and two extinct sections in the genus, sometimes treated as separate genera.^[10][13][14] Genetic studies indicate that the extant members of the genus can be subdivided into two large clades – the first consisting of the section Araucaria, Bunya, and Intermedia; and the second of the strongly monophyletic section Eutacta. Sections Eutacta and Bunya are both the oldest taxa of the genus, with Eutacta possibly older.^[15]

Taxa marked with {{extinct}} are extinct.

• {{anchor|SectioAraucaria}}Section Araucaria. Leaves broad; cones more than {{convert|12|cm|abbr=on}} diameter; seed germination hypogeal. Syn. sect. Columbea; sometimes includes Intermedia and Bunya
  • Araucaria angustifolia – Paraná pine (obsolete: Brazilian pine, candelabra tree); southern and southeastern Brazil, northeastern Argentina.
  • Araucaria araucana – monkey-puzzle or pehuén (obsolete: Chile pine); central Chile & western Argentina.
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria nipponensis – Japan and Sakhalin (Upper Cretaceous)^[16]
• {{anchor|SectioBunya}}Section Bunya. Contains only one living species. Produces recalcitrant seeds with hypogeal (cryptocotylar) germination,^[17] though extinct species may have exhibited epigeal germination.^[15]
  • Araucaria bidwillii – bunya-bunya; Eastern Australia
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria brownii - England
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria mirabilis – Patagonia (Middle Jurassic)
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria sphaerocarpa - England (Middle Jurassic)
• {{anchor|SectioIntermedia}}Section Intermedia. Contains only one living species. Produces recalcitrant seeds
  • Araucaria hunsteinii – klinki; New Guinea
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria haastii - New Zealand (Cretaceous)
• {{anchor|SectioEutacta}}Section Eutacta. Leaves narrow, awl-like; cones less than {{convert|12|cm|abbr=on}} diameter; seed germination epigeal
  • 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 goroensis – New Caledonia
  • 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
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria lignitici – (Paleogene) Yallourn, Victoria^[18]
• {{extinct}}Section Yezonia. Extinct. Contains only one species
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria vulgaris – Japan (Late Cretaceous)
• {{extinct}}Section Perpendicula. Extinct. Contains only one species
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria desmondii - New Zealand (Late Cretaceous)
• incertae sedis
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria beipiaoensis
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria fibrosa
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria marensii – La Meseta Formation, Antarctica & Santa Cruz Formation, Argentina^[19][20]
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria nihongii – Japan
  • {{extinct}}Araucaria taieriensis - New Zealand ^[21]

Araucaria bindrabunensis (previously classified under section Bunya) has been transferred to the genus Araucarites.

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.

Food{{anchor|Nuts}}

The edible large seeds of A. araucana, A. angustifolia and A. bidwillii — also known as Araucaria nuts,^[22] and often called, although improperly, pine nuts — are eaten as food (particularly among the Mapuche people and Native Australians).^[10]

In South America Araucaria nuts or seeds are called piñas, pinhas, piñones or pinhões, like pine nuts in Europe.

Pharmacological activity

Pharmacological reports on genus Araucaria are anti- ulcer, antiviral, neuro-protective, anti-depressant and anti-coagulant.^[23]

See also

• Agathis (Kauri)
• Wollemia

References

External links

• {{cite web |url=http://www.conifers.org/ar/ar/index.html |website=Gymnosperm Database |title=Araucaria}}
• {{cite web |url=http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/Araucaria/Index.html |title=Araucaria Research}}

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