PINACE^ 151 



small. Cotyledons pushed above ground in germination. In- 

 cludes A. Balansce, A. Beccarii, A. Cunninghmnii, A. CooJcii, 

 A. excelsa, A. Muelleri, A. Riilei. 



The genus Araucaria is closely allied to Agathis, but in the latter 

 genus the seed has usually but one well-developed wing and is 

 free from the scale. In Araucaria the seed is united to the 

 scale, which is usually winged on the edges. 



Wood resinous, yellowish white, straight-grained, easily 

 worked, and useful for the indoor finish of houses, furniture, 

 carving, box-boards, the commoner kinds of joinery and car- 

 pentry, and for paper pulp. It is probable that S. America 

 has the largest supply of timber for export, that produced 

 in Australia being insufficient even for home needs. The seeds 

 are edible, and several species produce useful resin. Only one 

 species, A. imhricata, is hardy and suitable for outdoor culture 

 in Britain, but all the timber-producing species should be pro- 

 tected and their development encouraged in their native countries, 

 for they produce the best soft-woods of their respective regions. 

 The Araucarias are best propagated by seeds, although it is 

 possible to increase them from cuttings. (See under A. excelsa.) 

 They possess the power, to a remarkable degree, of renewing 

 the leading shoot in case of mjury. After a leading shoot 

 has been broken or cut off a number of young, erect shoots 

 appear from below the wound ; such shoots will make very good 

 cuttings. 



" Tho Araucariese, Recent and Extinct." A. C. Seward, F.R.S., and Sibille 

 O. Ford. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, vol. 

 cxcviii. 304-411 (1906). 



Araucaria Balansae, Brongniart and Gris. 



A. elegans, Hort. 



A tree 45-60 ft. high, with horizontal branches and long, 

 slender, pendent branchlets. Leaves small, uniform in size, 

 densely crowded on the branchlets and lasting many years ; 

 about I in. long, almost as wide at the base, curving inwards 

 and appearing to clasp the stem, stomata on the inner surface. 

 Male catkins 2-3 in. long, f-1 in. wide. Cones oval, terminating 

 short shoots, 2|-3 in. long by 2-2^ in. wide, the scales ending in 

 stiff, lance-shaped bristles ^ in. long. 



A species allied to A. Cookii, hut distinguished by its smaller 

 leaves and more slender growth. 



Native of New Caledonia. 



A . balansce does not appear to be of any economic importance, 

 but it is grown in greenhouses in Europe on account of its decora- 

 tive character, and may be seen in the Temperate House at 

 Kew. 



L' Illustration Horticole, xxii, 20, t. 197. 



