ARAUCARIA, a genus of plants of the natural order coniferR (q.v.) or pines, consist ing of lofty trees, natives of the southern hemisphere, and distinguished by having the male and female flowers on separate plants, the pollen of the male flowers contained in 10-20 cases pendent from the apex of each scale, the female flowers two under each scale; each having one ovule. The species are all evergreen, the leaves broader than in pines and firs, which, however, the trees resemble in their general manner of growth. A. inthricata, sometimes called the CHILI PINE, a native of the Andes of Chili, forming forests on their western declivities, attains a height of 150 ft., the trunk quite straight and free from knots. The bark of the young trees is studded with leaves from the base upwards, even until 12 or 15 years of age. The branches are in whorls of 6, 7. or 8. oung trees have branches almost from the ground; old trees have tall naked stems, with a crown of branches. The female strobile (cone) is roundish ovate, 8 to 10 in. in diameter, the scales terminated by a long awl-shaped point, the seeds wedge-shaped, and more than an inch in length. The outer and inner bark of full-grown trees are each 4 to 6 in. in- thickness; the outer bark of a cork-like texture; the inner, fungous and porous. From both outer and inner bark, and indeed from all parts of the tree, resin flows readily and in great abundance. The leaves are lanceolate, about 1+ in. in length, and + in. in breadth near the base, sharp-pointed. The timber is heavy, solid, hard, fibrous, yellowish white, and beautifully veined. It is very suitable for masts of ships. The resin, which is white, has a smell like frankincense, and a not unpleasant taste. It is applied as a plaster to contusions. The seed is pleasant to the taste, not unlike the chestnut, and is a most important article of food to the Indians. It is eaten raw, boiled, or roasted. A spirituous liquor is also distilled from it. A single strobile sometimes contains between 200 and 300 seeds, and one tree may be seen loaded with 20 or 30 of these great strobiles. This A. was introduced into Britain iu the end of last century, and is now pretty frequently planted. It promises to add a new feature to British landscapes,
as other trees of the same order, particularly the larch and spruce, have done before, and will probably prove important in an economical point of view. It is the only species which seems suited to the climate of Britain. A. brasiliana, the BRAZIL PINE, has loosely imbricated lanceolate leaves, and a looser and more spreading habit than A. Ian bricata. The seeds or nuts are sold as an article of food in Rio Janeiro. The resin which exudes from the tree is mixed with wax to make candles. A. excelsa, now called eutassa excelsa (and by some altingia), the NORFOLK ISLAND PINE, a native of Norfolk island, New Caledonia, etc., attains a height of 160 to 220 ft., free from branches to 80 to 100 ft., and with a trunk sometimes 11 ft. in diameter. The wood is white, tough, close-grained, and so heavy as almost to sink in water. The leaves of the young trees are linear and spreading; those of the adult arc ovate, and closely imbricated. The strobiles are ovate, 4 to 5 in. in length. A. cunningliandi, now also ranked in the new genus eutassa or altingia, the MORETON BAY PINE, a native of the shores of Moreton bay and banks of the Brisbane river in New South Wales, very much resembles the last. It attains a height of 60 to 130 ft., and a diameter of 4 to 8 ft. The leaves of the adult trees are lanceolate and imbricated. The wood is yellowish, and is used for boat-buiid ing, house-carpentry, and the common kinds of furniture. The large seeds of A. bidwillii are used for food by the natives at Moreton bay.
Certain fossil conifera3 found in carboniferous sandstone have received the name arau carites. Livingstone found a forest of large silicified trees near the Zambesi, which Mr. Quekett, on examination of specimens, ascertained to be "silicified coniferous wood of the Araucarian type." Fossil trees of the same type occur in the carboniferous strata of Britain. A trunk, for instance, 47 ft. long, was found in Craigleith quarry, near Edin burgh, in 1830.