ENUMERATION OF CONIFERS 



243 



to 100 feet tall, with spreading and slightly pendent branches raised at the 

 ends, in whorls of 5-7, with the branchlets and leaves tufted at the ends, 

 tending to disappear below as the plant grows: leaves oblong-lanceolate, 



much attenuated and very sharp- 

 imbricated: staminate flowers 4-5 





1-2 inches long, somewhat decurrent, 

 pointed, deep glaucous green, loosely 

 inches long: cones globose, 5-6 

 inches across; scales with a recurved 

 spine at apex. Southern Brazil. — 

 Introduced to Europe in 1819. 



Var. Ridolfiana, Gord. A more 

 robust form with longer and larger 

 leaves. } 



Var. elegans, Laws, (var. gra- ' 

 cilis, Carr.). A form with more \ 

 numerous and slenderer branches ^^J^^yNiy'v 

 and more crowded, narrower, and -^^^^^^^^'^ 

 often glaucous leaves. 



3. A. araucana, K. Koch {A. 

 imhricata, Pav.). Monkey-Puzzle. 

 Fig. 62 and Plate XVII. A striking 

 tree of pyramidal habit, to 100 feet 

 tall; branches generally in whorls 

 of 5, at first horizontal, with 

 upward-curving (sometimes down- 

 ward-curving) tips, but finally be- 

 coming much defiexed; branclilets 

 in opposite pairs, curved upward when yoimg, and continuing to grow until 

 several feet long when adult: leaves imbricated and persisting, even on the 

 trunk, ovate-lanceolate, very stiff, leathery, and sharp-pointed, 2 inches 

 long on the primary stem and branches, 1 inch long on the branchlets, slightly 

 concave at the base, bright green on both sides: staminate flowers 3-5 inches 

 long: cone globose-ovoid, 5-8 inches in diameter; scales with lanceolate 

 acuminate appendage about 1 inch long at apex; seeds about 1 inch long, 

 obscurely 4-angled. Western slope of the Andes in Chile. — A few plants were 

 brought to England in 1795 by A. Menzies, but remained very rare until in 

 1844 Wm. Lobb sent a large supply of seeds. This is the hardiest species 

 and can probably be grown as far north as the Middle Atlantic States in 

 sheltered locations. Thrives well in mild climates in a hea^^'^ loamy soil in 

 a moist valley or position sheltered from rough winds. The branches are 

 heavy and rather brittle and the beauty and symmetry are soon destroyed if 

 planted in an exposed position. One of the most distinct conifers, of 

 singular and impressive appearance when clothed to the ground with its 



62. Araucaria araucana. 



