CONIFERiE. 



93 



ArAUCARIA BrASILIKNSIS : The Brazil Araucaria. 



Another handsome kind, having lanceolate shariD-pointed leaves, one 

 to two inches long, glaucous below and bright sliining green above, 

 with whorled branches forming a pyramidal tree, ranging from fifty to 

 one hundred feet. There is also a more robust form of it, (Bidolfiana,) 

 and likewise a more slender-branched variety, f Gracilis J but all of them 

 are much too tender for our English climate. 



Araucaria ExGELSA: The Lofty Araucaria. 



This is the prototype of the small or needled eaved kinds. 



Leaves, somewhat awl-shaped, four-sided, compressed, curved, and 

 thick ; from half to one inch long, generally obtuse-pointed, and when 

 old somewhat imbricated, and of a rich light green colour. 



Cones, globular in form, large, erect, long footstalked, brown in 

 colour, and from four to six inches diameter at their broadest part ; 

 seeds large, thick at top, and thin on the edges, with the wing 

 appendage broad. 



Branches, in regular verticillate whorls, straight and spreading, but 

 slightly curved at the tips, the laterals opposite or alternate, somewhat 

 in two rows along the branch stems, slender, undivided, drooping 

 or horizontal. 



This most noble and majestic pine is at present found in Australia ; 

 most plentiful, however, on ]N"orfolk Island ; hence its popular English 

 name, ^^JS'orfolk Island Pine." It attains heights of from one hundred 

 to two hundred feet, with trunk diameters of from six to twelve feet, 

 forming a handsome tree, with a clear stem, and somewhat rounded 

 but tapering head. Of this species there are two quasi-species, viz : — 

 CooJcii, (Captain Cook's Araucaria,) which has somewhat smaller cones, 

 and less regularly disposed foliage, and is found in Aniteura, l^ew 

 Hebrides, and IS"ew Caledonia; and Cu7iningJiamil, (Cunningham's 

 Araucaria,) which has more sharp-pointed, rigid, smooth, shining, and 

 dark green leaves, disposed all round the branch stems, with cones of a 

 round or globular form about three inches in diameter. Of these 

 quasi-species there are, again, some varieties, such as Glauca, (glaucous- 

 leaved,) and Longifolia, (long-leaved j) all of them beautiful, but 

 unfortunately much too delicate and tender for an ordinary English 

 winter; but when in a young state they are most useful plants for 

 the decoration of Crystal Palaces, Glass Mansions, or Conserva- 

 tories ; and are well deserving a place in such structures in this 

 country where fine-foliaged or remarkably beautiful plants are 

 cultivated. 



