Araucaria
Branches of the Chilean Araucaria (Araucaria araucana)
- Araucaria
- Bunya
- Intermedia
- Eutacta
The araucaria (Araucaria ) are a genus of the family (Araucariaceae ), which are among the conifers ( Coniferales ). It has a strongly disjoint area in the Southern Hemisphere.
- 4.1 Notes and references
Description
Vegetative characteristics
The Araucaria species are evergreen trees. The species with the highest trees in the Araucaria is hunsteinii with 89 meters Araucaria. The oldest specimen of the genus to be a 1000 -year-old Araucaria araucana. At the plagiotrop ( plagiotrop: by geotropism certain growth direction that is not the orientation of the shoot axis ) aligned branches are arranged in the rough leaves spirally. On young trees the leaves are arranged needle-shaped and spiral. In mature trees the leaves are mostly scale-like or spirally arranged in two layers, they overlap. The leaves persist for many years. Seedlings have two to four cotyledons ( cotyledons ).
Generative features
Araucaria species are getrenntgeschlechtig, mostly dioecious ( dioecious ) or rarely monoecious ( monoecious ). Male cones are terminal on the branches, individually or combined to more formed. The numerous stamens are spirally arranged. Female cones are almost spherical. The thin cone scales often have a pointed end. The pegs are heavy and contain a lot of milky fluid. From pollination to maturity, the cones take two to three years. Seeds and scales are fused together. The seeds are winged and edible in some species.
Dissemination
The genus Araucaria has a strongly disjoint area in the Southern Hemisphere. There are species in South America, in Chile, Argentina and southern Brazil (see also Floresta ombrófila mista ); other species are widespread in New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Australia and New Guinea. This old taxon was formerly more widespread. The current area is a relict area; it corresponds to the supercontinent of Gondwana. 13 of the 19 Araucaria species are endemic to New Caledonia; the New Caledonian species are more closely related to each other than any other species.
System
The genus Araucaria 1789 by Juss., pp. 413 situated in Genera Plantarum. Type species is Araucaria imbricata Pav.
The genus Araucaria (Araucaria ) is divided into four sections and contains 19 species:
- Section Araucaria ( Syn: champagne Colymbea ): With only two types: Brazilian Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria angustifolia ( Bertol. ) Kuntze ): She has her home in the South American countries of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay at altitudes 500-1800, partially up to 2300 meters.
- Chilean Araucaria (Araucaria araucana ( Molina ) K.Koch ): home to the Andes of southern and central Chile and southwestern Argentina at altitudes 950-1050 m.
- Queensland Araucaria (Araucaria bidwillii Hook. ): With multiple locations in Queensland, Australia.
- Araucaria hunsteinii K.Schum. A endemic in northeastern New Guinea ( Bulolo valley ) at altitude 600-2000 meters.
- Araucaria bernieri J.Buchholz: endemic in New Caledonia at altitudes 0-700 meters.
- Araucaria biramulata J.Buchholz: endemic in New Caledonia at altitude 300-1050 meters.
- Araucaria columnaris ( G.Forst. ) Hook:. Endemic in New Caledonia in the lowlands. Due to the particularly beautiful stature as ornamentals planted in tropical park.
- Guinea - Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D.Don ): With two varieties: A. cunninghamii Aiton ex D.Don cunninghamii var: Is located in Australia in tropical and subtropical coastal rainforest rainforest of northern Queensland to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, at altitudes between 0 and 1000 meters.
- A. cunninghamii var papuana ( Lauterb. ) Silba: With an area in western New Guinea ( Arfak Mountains) at altitude 610-2400 meters.
Swell
- Christopher J. Earle: Information on the genus at The Gymnosperm Database, 2007 (English ).