418 



THE ARAUCARIA OR CHILI PINE. 



Fig 53 — Araiicana imbncata. 

 THE ARAUCARIA OR CHILI PINE. 



[We quote the following notice of the 

 striking new evergreen tree, so much the 

 rage at present in England, (see vol. 1, 

 page 541,) from the London Horticultural 

 Magazine. From the experience of the 

 last two seasons, there is every reason to 

 believe that this tree will prove hardy in 

 the latitude of New-York. Ed.] 



Aratjcaria, {Jussieu,) is derived from 

 Araucos, a name applied to the natives in 

 those districts of Chili where the tree is in- 

 digenous. 



Araucaria imbricata, Pavon (imbricate- 

 leaved Araucaria, or Chili Pine). — Leaves 

 generally eight together, ovate lance-shaped, 

 thickened .at the base, stiff, straight, with 

 persistent mucros. Cones globular at the 

 end of the branches, about the size of a 

 man's head ; scales beautifully imbricated. 



A very remarkable evergreen tree, of 

 magnificent dimensions, almost the only 

 one to be met with in those districts where 

 it is indigenous. It is a high tree, from 80 



to 100 feet, with a trunk like a pillar. 

 Standing closely together in the forest, the 

 trees are generally devoid of branches to 

 the height of fifty or sixty feet : the top is 

 in the shape of a depressed cone, the side- 

 branches proceeding from the trunk in a 

 horizontal direction, and ascending slightly 

 at the tips. Over those branches the leaves 

 are thickly set like scales, which give an 

 appearance of rich embossed work. From 

 the thick coating of leaves which pervades 

 the whole outline of the tree, an idea of 

 extreme brittleness is conveyed to the mind. 

 The wood, however, was successfully used 

 in ship-building in 1780 by Don Francisco 

 Dendariarena. 



This plant is a native of the mountainous 

 parts of Chili, in South America, particu- 

 larly in that division occupied by the tribes 

 of original inhabitants called Araucos, from 

 whom the tree derives its name ; and from 

 the fact that the climate where it thrives 

 has accommodated itself so wonderfully to 

 European productions, a hope may be held 

 out that the Araucaria may in this country 



