260 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



The smooth, nut-like seeds produced by most of the 

 species are edible and nutritious, and are often two inches 

 in length. The resin extracted from the trunk of the 

 trees is generally fragrant and valuable ; that furnished by 

 the A. Braziliensis is incorporated with wax and made 

 into candles. The timber of many of the species is fine- 

 grained, durable, and valuable for building purposes. 



This genus is one of the oldest of the order, as well 

 preserved specimens of a handsome species have been dis- 

 covered in the coal formations of Europe ; and although 

 entirely extinct in a living state at the present time, the 

 name of A. primceva has been given it. 



The Araucarias differ from the most of the Pine sub- 

 family in being dioecious, and principally on this account 

 have, with the Dammara and others, been formed into a 

 distinct sub-order by some writers. The name of the ge- 

 nus is derived from a tribe of Chilians called Araucanos, 

 who use the seeds of the A. imbricata as their principal 

 article of food. 



1. A. imbricata, Pavon CHILI PINE. Leaves, vary- 

 ing from f to If inch long, ovate-lanceolate, sessile, rigid, 

 straight, sharply acute, very persistent, closely imbricated, 

 arranged in whorls or verticils of 7 or 8, deep glossy-green 

 color. Branches, horizontal, ascending at their extremi- 

 ties, in whorls of 6, 7, or 8, and covered with a resinous, 

 corky bark. Cones, from 7 to 7-J- inches long, and 8 to 8^ 

 inches broad, roundish-ovate, erect, solitary ; with numer- 

 ous, deciduous, recurved, wedge-shaped, large scales. 

 Seeds, wedge-shaped, from 1 to 2 inches long ; thick, hard 

 testa ; and short, obsolete wings. 



This very handsome species is from the Andes of South 

 America, between 36 and 46 south latitude, and occurs 

 in such abundance as to form large forests ; in many places 

 covering whole sides of the mountain from the base to the 

 snow line. It is most frequently found on dry, rocky emi- 

 nences almost destitute of water. 



