Araucaria bidwillii
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| Araucaria bidwillii (Molina) K. Koch |
Araucaria bidwillii is a species in the genus Araucaria, family Araucariaceae. It is a large evergreen coniferous tree, native to southeast Queensland with small disjunct populations in northern Queensland's World Heritage listed Wet Tropics, and many fine old specimens planted in northeast New South Wales. It is an evergreen tree that reaches heights of 30-40 m.
Natural populations of this species have been reduced in extent and abundance through exploitation for its timber, the construction of a dam and historical clearing. Most populations are now protected in formal reserves and national parks.
The cones are 20-35 cm in diameter, and disintegrate when mature to release the large (3-4 cm) seeds. The seeds are edible, similar to pine nuts, and are an important food resource for Australian Aboriginal people; groves of the trees are often under particular tribal ownership. They are eaten both raw and cooked. Traditionally they were also ground and made into a paste, which was eaten directly or cooked in hot coals to make bread.
The vernacular name is Bunya or Bunya-bunya, from the Australian Aboriginal name for the tree; it is also often called Bunya Pine (though this is inaccurate as it is not a pine), or a "Bunya Nut" tree.
[edit] Cultivation
Bunya nuts are slow to germinate. A set of 12 seeds sown in Melbourne took on average about six months to germinate (with the first germinating in 3 months) and only developed roots until 1 year. The first leaves form a rosette and are dark brown. The leaves only turn green once the first stem branch occurs. Unlike the mature leaves, the young leaves are relatively soft. As the leaves age they become very hard and sharp.
Once established Bunyas are quite hardy and can be grown as far south as Hobart in Australia and Christchurch in New Zealand.
[edit] References
- Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Araucaria bidwillii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
