The Monkey Puzzle and its Kin—By Harold Clarke, 
New 
York 
ARAUCARIAS FOR CALIFORNIA AND THE SOUTH, INCLUDING THE NORFOLK ISLAND PINE, WHICH 
IS THE MOST SYMMETRICAL CONIFER GROWN AS A HOUSEPLANT IN NORTHERN COUNTRIES 
epee most symmetrically habited of all 
the evergreen conifers are the arau- 
carias usually seen in the East only as pot 
plants* but they grow into handsome trees 
in California. As pot plants for house 
decorations all the dozen or so kinds make 
excellent subjects and are equally good lawn 
specimens or street trees in a Suitable climate; 
while some of the species such as the Moreton 
Bay pine (A. Cumnninghami) and Cook’s 
*The facts regarding the behavior of these plants in 
California were supplied by Mr. Ernest Braunton. 
pine (A. Cookit) may be planted in masses. 
The species are all natives of the southern 
temperate zone and with the exception of 
two from South America, they come from 
Australia. 
Some of the species seemingly will thrive 
only in restricted areas, but all demand a 
deep, well-drained soil, with plenty of mois- 
ture, but never stagnant. In shallow soil, i. e. 
where the subsoil is near the surface, 
the roots do not have sufficient chance 
to develop, and the plants are short-lived. 
The Bunya-bunya (A, Bidwilli) has dark green foliage and very dense habit 
24 
The most commonly grown araucaria on 
both sides of our continent is the Norfolk 
Island pine (A. excelsa). This tree has the 
most conventional habit of growth of any 
tree grown in California—or anywhere else 
for that matter—they have branches growing 
out from the trunk at fairly regular intervals, 
in “shelves” or whorls, by reason of which 
old specimens may be easily recognized at 
a considerable distance. In their young 
state they often put forth five branches, and 
for this reason it is sometimes called star 
pine. The foliage is a bright grass-green. 
As a florist plant in the East this pretty pine 
is justly popular, especially at Christmas 
time, it is the best formal plant for house 
cultivation, and stands indifferent treatment 
very well as long as it is reasonably cool and 
moist at the roots. 
The Norfolk Island pine is most easily 
injured by frost and does not succeed in 
warm, dry situations so that its range as a 
tree is restricted to the warmer portion of 
California. On account of its strict form 
it is not adapted to planting in small yards 
and is seldom in harmony with other vege- 
tation upon grounds of considerable size. 
People have been slow to appreciate this so 
that many of the smaller front yards of 
California contain one of these stern and for- 
bidding “exclamation points.” 
All conifers lose their lower branches if 
planted closely together, but with none is the 
loss so noticeable as in this majestic, dignified, 
yet graceless tree. Theré are several varie- 
ties of the Norfolk Island pine occasionally 
seen in cultivation and this is most particu- 
larly true in the East where they are especially 
favored for pot plants in winter. The variety 
robusta is very much stronger growing than 
the type and has larger leaves. It is known 
in the trade under various names such as 
Goldieana and Sanderiana. The variety 
glauca has lighter green foliage which is 
more or less glaucous. Perhaps the most 
striking variety is alba spicata the branches. 
of which are white-tipped. 
THE BEST SPECIES 
Rule’s pine (A. Rulez) is the best of the 
genus but it is very rare in cultivation. The 
branches are horizontal and rigid but the 
branchlets are more or less drooping. The 
leaves are set closely together arching slightly 
toward the branch, about one inch long, and 
deep green. 
Two species which should be more gener- 
ally planted in the warmer states are A. 
Cunninghami and A. Cookii. Neither have 
the stiff conventional habit of the commonly 
grown kinds. Cook’s pine (A. Cookiz) in 
its native land makes a straight columnar 
shaft 150 feet high. There is a pleasing 
lack of exactness in the disposition of its 
branches which come out ina sort.of a “hit 
or miss” style instead of being in whorls 
ol 
cenpal 
