GENUS ARAUCARIA. 21 



oval in form, resinous and scaly. In the younger stages of 

 growth this tree presents an unusually stiff, sturdy, and un- 

 yielding habit of growth. By careful choice of soil and site, 

 the latter in particular, spring tenderness may to a great 

 extent be obviated, the conditions being that a northern or 

 eastern aspect be chosen, also a cool, late soil and fairly 

 sheltered situation. A full account of this variety, with 

 illustrations, by myself, will be found in The Garden, vol. 

 XXX., 1886. 



ARAUCARIA (Jussieu). 



Flowers usually dioecious.^ 



Cones large, globular, or ovoid ; females cylindrical. 



Scales spiral, deciduous, united with the bracts. 



Seeds, one to each scale, inverted, and more or less attached 

 to the scales. 



Leaves spirally arranged, closely imbricated, and widest at 

 the base. 



The Araucaria differs from the true pines and firs in 

 having the sexes usually on different trees, in the cone scales 

 being one-seeded, and the seed more or less attached to the 

 scales. 



Araucaria imbricata, Pavon. Chili Pine. Southern 

 Chili. 1796. Though of somewhat stiff outline, there is 

 something remarkably pleasing and distinct about a well- 

 grown and well-furnished specimen of this Araucaria. Un- 

 fortunately, however, the opinion entertained regarding the 

 value of the tree for general planting in this country years 

 ago does not hold good to-day, and a great change in its cul- 

 ture has in consequence been brought about. In the younger 

 stages of growth, the Araucaria is no doubt one of the most 

 distinct of all coniferous trees, but with the advances of age, it 

 usually begins to show signs of decay, the lower branches 



1 The Araucaria is not always dioecious as stated by some writers. At Cudliam 

 Hall, in Kent, the property of the Earl of Derby, I have seen large numbers of 

 both male and female cones produced on the same tree. 



