Knowledge Builders

what is araucaria wood used for

by Manley Gutkowski Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Common applications for Araucaria include:

  • Framing - Seasoned Araucaria for protected and exposed above ground framing; preservative treated Araucaria for in-ground framing
  • Internal flooring
  • Internal and external joinery
  • Panelling
  • Decking
  • Cladding
  • Plywood

Araucaria wood is useful for inside finishing to homes, furniture, carving, and for paper pulp. The seeds of Araucaria are edible and several species produce useful resins. Araucariaceae has also recently made itself into the news with the discovery of a new genus in Australia.

Full Answer

What are the characteristics of Araucaria?

Araucaria are mainly large trees with a massive erect stem, reaching a height of 5–80 metres (16–262 ft). The horizontal, spreading branches grow in whorls and are covered with leathery or needle-like leaves.

How many species of Araucaria are there?

ɾja]) 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, East Argentina, South Brazil, Chile and Paraguay .

How did the Araucana get its name?

The species name araucana is derived from the native Araucanians who used the nuts (seeds) of the tree in Chile. A group of Araucanians living in the Andes, the Pehuenches, owe their name to their diet based on harvesting of the Araucaria seeds. Pehuén means Araucaria and che people in Mapudungun. Description.

When did araucariadates go extinct?

This extinct species of Araucariadates back to the Jurassic Period (135-180 million years ago), when giant dinosaurs ruled the earth. Although prickles on the cone scales have worn away after millions of years of erosion, the cone is remarkably preserved.

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Is Araucaria a hardwood?

Mechanical Characteristics: Generally moderate density with good strength characteristics for a softwood.

Is Araucaria a pine?

The Araucaria genus is comprised of approximately 19 species of pine-like conifer trees indigenous to the southern hemisphere. The Norfolk Island Pine, is endemic to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean, east of Sydney, Australia between New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Is Norfolk pine a good lumber?

Sometimes, the wood is marked by blue-gray fungal staining, which turns black once finished, giving a desirable look similar to Spalted Maple. Norfolk Island Pine is a relatively soft wood, making it very easy to work with....Norfolk Island Pine Wood Slab #43S-EGN-MDMM.SpeciesNorfolk Island Pine 12/4FinishingNone5 more rows

How is an Araucaria Cone different from a regular pine cone?

The araucaria scale has a single large seed, while the pine scale bears a pair of winged seeds. Cones from both of these species can be very large, weighing up to ten pounds or more. Araucaria cones fall apart at maturity, so you don't tend to find old, intact cones on the ground beneath the trees.

Is Norfolk Pine toxic?

Norfolk Island Pines are also non-toxic, so make an especially great choice for the family home with children and pets.

What are Norfolk pines used for?

The wood of large trees is used in construction, furniture, and shipbuilding. The plant is grown as an outdoor ornamental in regions with a Mediterranean climate, and the attractive saplings are cultivated throughout the world as houseplants.

Is Norfolk pine a hardwood?

Norfolk Island Pine | The Wood Database (Softwood)

Is Norfolk Island pine a Christmas tree?

The Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is another option for having a live Christmas tree during the holiday season. This tree is quite different from a typical pine in the Iowa landscape. It is a tropical plant, and must remain indoors during the winter months.

Where did Norfolk pines originate?

The small, potted plants that we know as Norfolk Island pines, originated on an uninhabited island near Australia, named by Captain James Cook in 1774.

What are pine cones good for?

But did you know that pinecones have a vital job? They keep pine tree seeds safe, and protect them from the freezing temperatures during the winter! To protect their seeds, pinecones can close their “scales” tightly, keeping out cold temperatures, winds, ice and even animals that might eat their precious cargo.

Can you eat Norfolk pine nuts?

In 2014 arborists at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne collected 126 cones from a single tree. Nuts can be eated roasted, boiled or raw and have the flavour of baked potato.

What has happened to the Araucaria forests?

Within this domain, the Araucaria Forest is one of the associated ecosystems, which is characterized by the presence of the species Araucaria angustifolia [19]. This ecosystems' area has been significantly reduced due to logging, deforestation and expansion of urban areas [20, 21].

What is the Family of Araucaria?

AraucariaceaeMonkey puzzles / FamilyAraucariaceae – also known as araucarians – is an extremely ancient family of coniferous trees. The family achieved its maximum diversity during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, when it was distributed almost worldwide. Wikipedia

Is a Norfolk Island pine a tree?

Norfolk Island pine is not an actual pine tree but rather a relative of the monkey puzzle tree. It is often cultivated as a landscape tree in subtropical climates in North America (USDA zones 10 to 11) and grown indoors elsewhere.

What is scientific name of Araucaria plant?

AraucariaMonkey puzzles / Scientific name

Are Norfolk pine seeds edible?

In 2014 arborists at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne collected 126 cones from a single tree. Nuts can be eated roasted, boiled or raw and have the flavour of baked potato.

What are the mechanical characteristics of Parana pine?

Mechanical Characteristics: Generally moderate density with good strength characteristics for a softwood. Commercial timbers such as Parana pine fall somewhere between ponderosa pine and southern yellow pine on the spectrum of mechanical characteristics.

What color is sapwood?

Visual Characteristics: Generally both sapwood and heartwood are a light brown, sometimes with a yellow or red hue. Some species are prone to blue/gray fungal staining, particularly if not dried properly.

Does Araucaria have resin canals?

Identification: Unlike true pines in the Pinus genus, Araucaria lacks resin canals. Trachied diameter is usually medium-large. Some species appear to have rather wide and conspicuous rays when viewed from the endgrain.

Is pine a species?

Although many species are commonly referred to as “pine”—they are not true pine species in the strict sense. However, the trees and wood appear very similar and are used for many of the same purposes.

How high is Araucaria cunninghamii?

papuana — New Guinea, on the mountains of Papua New Guinea, and in Indonesia — Irian Jaya, occurring at 300 to 8,600 feet (100 - 2,700 m) eleva tion.

How tall is a hoop pine tree?

Description. Hoop pine is an asymmetrical, evergreen coniferous species of tree which will grow to mature height of 200 feet (60 m) tall with a 12 foot (4 m) girth. Its bark is rough, growing in horizontal bands, and exfoliating in fine circular bands. Branches are long, branchlets appear in tufts at the branch ends. Seasonal branchlets are up to 0.8 inch (2 cm) in diameter. Juvenile leaves are spirally arranged, green or glaucous, with entire, flattened margins and stomata on both surfaces. Adult leaves scale-like, 0.3 to 0.8 inch (0.8 - 2 cm) long and are incurved, acute, imbricate, and keeled on both sides with stomata on both surfaces. Pollen cones are cylindrical, 0.8 to 1.2 inches (2 - 3 cm) long by 0.2 to 0.28 inch (5 - 7 mm) wide. Microsporophylls are rhombic and obtuse. Seed cones are ovoid, symmetrical, 3.2 to 4 inches (8 - 10 cm) long by 2.5 to 3.2 inches (6 - 8 cm) wide with scales having longer reflexed spines than the New Guinea plants. Seeds are 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) long by ca. 0.25 inch (6 - 7 mm) wide, with narrow wings.

What is the scientific name for hoop pine?

Other less commonly used names include Colonial pine and Queensland pine. The scientific name honors the botanist and explorer Allan Cunningham, who collected the first specimens in the 1820s.

Where is Variety Papuana native to?

Distribution. This species is native to Australia — coastal tropical and subtropical rain forests from northern Queensland to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, at sea level to 3,500 feet (0 - 1,000 m) elevation. Variety papuana occurs in western New Guinea — the Arfak Mountains.

How many species of Araucaria are there?

Araucaria ( / ærɔːˈkɛəriə /; original pronunciation: [a.ɾawˈka. ɾja]) 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, Papua (Indonesia), Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Paraguay .

How tall is Araucaria?

Description. Araucaria are mainly large trees with a massive erect stem, reaching a height of 5–80 metres (16–262 ft). The horizontal, spreading branches grow in whorls and are covered with leathery or needle-like leaves.

What are conifer nuts?

For broader coverage of this topic, see Conifer nuts. The edible large seeds of A. araucana, A. angustifolia and A. bidwillii — also known as Araucaria nuts, and often called, although improperly, pine nuts — are eaten as food (particularly among the Mapuche people of Chile and Argentina and among Native Australians ).

Why do dinosaurs have long necks?

Some evidence suggests that the long necks of sauropod dinosaurs may have evolved specifically to browse the foliage of tall trees, including those of Araucaria. An analysis of modern Araucaria leaves found that they have a high energy content but are slow fermenting, making their ancestors a likely attractive target.

Why are New Caledonian species so diverse?

By far the greatest diversity exists in New Caledonia, likely due to a relatively recent adaptive radiation, as all New Caledonian species are more closely related to each other than they are to other Araucaria. 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. 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.

What are the two main clades of the genus Eutacta?

Genetic studies indicate that the extant members of the genus can be subdivided into two large clades – the first consisting of the sections 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.

How big are globose cones?

The female cones, usually high on the top of the tree, are globose, and vary in size among species from 7 to 25 centimetres (2.8 to 9.8 in) diameter.

What is the white arrow on a bunya cone?

Note the ovuliferous scale or megasporophyll (white arrow) bearing a single large seed on its upper surface. An ovuliferous scale (megasporophyll) and several large seeds from a bunya-bunya cone. Each scale bears one seed on its upper surface. The lower right seed has been removed from its woody seed coat.

How big is the tracheid cell?

Note: The average diameter of one tracheid cell lumen in cross section is about 30-40 µm. The resolving power of an unaided human eye with 20-20 vision is about 70 µm. Therefore, the cellular detail in above wood fragment is invisible to the naked eye.

What is the name of the tree with overlapping leaves?

The branches of both species are densely clothed with small, overlapping, triangular leaves. Right: A cone-bearing branch from the dammar pine or Queensland kauri ( Agathis robusta ), another interesting Australian member of the Araucariaceae.

How much does a bunya cone weigh?

Green bunya-bunya cones typically weigh 10 pounds (4.5 kg) or more. Green, unopened Coulter pine cones typically weigh 5 to 8 pounds (up to 3.6 kg). Cones of both species can be harmful if they fall from the upper branches of mature trees and hit your unprotected head.

How tall are araucaria leaves?

In their native habitats, the araucarias become tall timber trees up to 200 ft. (61 m).

What tree is the monkey puzzle tree?

A South American monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana). The prickly, tangled branches would probably be difficult (and painful) for a monkey to climb. Fossil evidence indicates that ancestral araucaria forests resembling the present-day monkey puzzle date back to the age of dinosaurs.

Why is the monkey puzzle tree named monkey puzzle tree?

This is also the land of the "monkey puzzle" tree ( A. araucana ), so named because the prickly, tangled branches would be difficult for a monkey to climb. Fossil evidence indicates that ancestral araucaria forests resembling the present-day monkey puzzle date back to the age of dinosaurs.

What is the closest relative to monkey puzzle trees?

Monkey Puzzle tree's closest known relative is Araucaria angustifolia, a South-American Araucaria which differs in the width of the leaves. The recently found Wollemi pine, (Wollemia nobilis), though discovered in southeastern Australia, is possibly its relative or possibly a relative of the Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla).

What is the best climate for araucaria?

It prefers temperate climates with abundant rainfall, tolerating temperatures down to about −4°F (−20°C). It is far and away the hardiest member of its genus, and can grow well in western Europe (north to the Faroe Islands and Smøla] in western Norway), the west coast of North America (north to the islands of Haida Gwaii in Canada) and locally on the east coast as well including Long Island, and in New Zealand and southeastern Australia. It is tolerant of coastal salt spray, but does not like exposure to pollution.

How tall is a monkey puzzle tree?

Description. Monkey puzzle tree is an evergreen coniferous species of tree that grows to mature heights of 130 feet (40 m); with trunk, 7 feet (2 m) in diameter, measured at breast height. Its native habitat, juvenile trees exhibit a broadly pyramidal or conical crown which naturally develops into the distinctive umbrella shape ...

Where did the name Araucana come from?

The species name araucana is derived from the native Araucanians who used the nuts (seeds) of the tree in Chile. A group of Araucanians living in the Andes, the Pehuenches, owe their name to their diet based on harvesting of the Araucaria seeds. Pehuén means Araucaria and che people in Mapudungun. Description.

Where did the Pinus Araucana tree come from?

In 1789, Antoine Laurent de Jussieu published a new genus called Araucaria based on this species, and in 1797 José Antonio Pavón Jiménez published a new description of the species which he called Araucaria imbricata (an invalid name, as it did not use Molina's older species epithet). Finally, in 1873, after several further redescriptions, Koch published the combination Araucaria araucana, validating Molina's name in the genus. The species name araucana is derived from the native Araucanians who used the nuts (seeds) of the tree in Chile. A group of Araucanians living in the Andes, the Pehuenches, owe their name to their diet based on harvesting of the Araucaria seeds. Pehuén means Araucaria and che people in Mapudungun.

How big is a pollen cone?

Pollen cones are oblong and cucumber-shaped, measuring 1.6 inches (4 cm) long at first, expanding to 3.2 to 4.8 inches (8 – 12 cm) long by 2 to 2.4 inches (5 – 6 cm) broad at the the time of pollen release. Trees are wind-pollinated.

Is Araucaria a monoecious tree?

Araucaria araucana — a monoecious tree ( males and females on same tree) Araucaria araucana — female cones in their second year. Araucaria araucana — ripe female cones, maturing in 2 years. Araucaria araucana — male cones. Araucaria araucana — a male monkey puzzle tree; species can be monoecious or dioecious.

Location

The wood commonly called parana pine (Araucaria angustifolia) is a softwood but not a true pine. It grows in southeastern Brazil and adjacent areas of Paraguay and Argentina.

Characteristics

Parana pine has many desirable characteristics. It is available in large-size clear boards with uniform texture. The small pinhead knots (leaf traces) that appear on flat-sawn surfaces and the light or reddish-brown heartwood provide a desirable figure for matching in paneling and interior woodwork.

Primary Uses

The principal uses of parana pine include framing lumber, interior woodwork, sashes and door stock, furniture case goods, and veneer.

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1.Superior Wood - History of Araucaria

Url:https://www.superiorwood.com.au/araucaria.html

20 hours ago Araucaria cunninghamii yields an excellent timber, which is used for all kinds of light construction and interior work, including mouldings, linings, panelling, domestic flooring, shelves, …

2.Araucaria (tropical pine) genus | The Wood Database

Url:https://www.wood-database.com/softwoods/araucariaceae/araucaria/

16 hours ago  · Araucaria cunninghamii yields an excellent timber, which is used for all kinds of light construction and interior work, including mouldings, linings, panelling, domestic …

3.Araucaria cunninghamii / Hoop pine - American Conifer …

Url:https://conifersociety.org/conifers/araucaria-cunninghamii/

5 hours ago Expert Answers: Araucaria cunninghamii yields an excellent timber, which is used for all kinds of light construction and interior work, including mouldings, linings, panelling,

4.Araucaria - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria

17 hours ago The Aboriginal Australians used the timber from Araucaria cunninghamii for the construction of boomerangs and coolamons. Aboriginals also used the sap to make glues used for axes and …

5.Woods: Araucaria - Palomar College

Url:https://www2.palomar.edu/users/warmstrong/ecoph27.htm

19 hours ago Comments: Araucaria species, though confined to the Southern Hemisphere, have a rather diverse distribution, being found from South America, all the way to Norfolk Island and New …

6.Araucaria araucana / Monkey Puzzle tree | Conifer …

Url:https://conifersociety.org/conifers/araucaria-araucana/

4 hours ago The wood is a high quality timber that is particularly important to the plywood industry and also used for furniture, veneer, joinery, panelling, particle board, flooring and boats. Most natural …

7.Parana Pine (Araucaria angustifolia)

Url:https://www.woodworkdetails.com/knowledge/wood/species/imported-softwood/parana-pine/

35 hours ago Uses [ edit] Further information: Araucaria angustifolia § Uses, A. araucana § Uses, and A. bidwillii § Uses. Some of the species are relatively common in cultivation because of their distinctive, …

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