2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Araucaria (lat. Araucaria) - a genus of evergreen trees of the Araucariaceae family. The genus includes more than 30 species. Natural range - South America, Australia, the Pacific Islands, New Guinea and New Caledonia. Only two species are currently cultivated on the territory of Russia.
Common types and their characteristics
* Narrow-leaved araucaria (lat. Araucaria angustifolia) - the species is represented by large trees up to 50 m high with thin hanging branches. Leaves are bright green, up to 5-6 cm long, linear-lanceolate. In Russia, this species is grown as a houseplant. In Brazil, the narrow-leaved araucaria is the most important timber industry tree, its wood is used as a building material for the manufacture of furniture and other structures, as well as musical instruments.
* Araucaria heterophylla (lat. Araucaria heterophylla) - the species is represented by majestic trees with a beautiful pyramidal crown and peeling bark of a brown shade. Leaves are light green, small, subulate, soft, needle-like, arranged in a spiral manner.
* Columnar araucaria, or Cook's araucaria (Latin Araucaria columnaris) - the species is represented by tall trees with a narrow pyramidal crown. The branches are relatively short, whorled, and branch off from the trunk almost at right angles. In appearance, the columnar araucaria is similar to the previous species, the difference is in the texture and shape of the leaves. Araucaria grows mainly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. In Russia, the plant can only be found in greenhouses.
* Chilean araucaria (lat. Araucaria araucana) - the species is represented by trees with a rounded-conical crown, which acquires an umbrella-shaped shape with age. The branches are long, curved upwards, collected in whorls of 6-7 pieces. The leaves are bright green, large, hard, shiny, arranged in a spiral shape. Differs in slow growth and light-requiring.
Growing conditions
The culture prefers well-lit areas with nutritious, moderately moist, breathable soils. Does not accept calcareous, swampy and saline soils. Most species are thermophilic, some are able to withstand frosts down to -15C.
Reproduction
Araucaria is propagated by seeds and semi-freshened stem cuttings. Seeds are sown immediately after collection, they cannot be stored, since they quickly lose their germination. Sowing is done one seed per pot. The pots are filled with a mixture of sand and peat soil with the addition of charcoal. After sowing, the soil in the pots is thoroughly moistened and covered with a thin layer of sphagnum moss. Contain crops in rooms with an air temperature of 20C. The first shoots appear in 2 weeks. Seedlings are uncooperative, they can be expected up to 2 months. As soon as the root system of the seedlings wraps around the entire lump of the mixture, they are transplanted into larger pots.
Reproduction by semi-freshened cuttings is carried out in early spring. Cuttings are cut from healthy shoots 3 cm below the whorl. Within 24 hours, the cuttings are kept in a cool room, then they are treated with growth stimulants and the cuts are powdered with wood ash. They are planted in containers filled with a moist substrate consisting of sand and peat, taken in equal proportions. Top cuttings are covered with a transparent jar or any other cap. For successful rooting, the room temperature should be around 25-26C. Under optimal conditions, rooting occurs in 60-70 days.
Care
In the conditions of the Russian climate, it is very difficult to cultivate crops in the open field, although in the southern regions it is quite possible. It is not forbidden to grow araucaria as a houseplant. It is important to comply with all conditions of detention, otherwise araucaria may die without showing all their beauty. Water the plants regularly, trying not to flood. Water stagnation in the near-stem zone is undesirable. Drying of an earthen coma is dangerous for araucaria. Top dressing is required. For these purposes, it is recommended to use complex fertilizers with a high calcium content. Top dressing with mullein infusion is also useful.
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Araucaria - A Living Christmas Tree
Russians associate Christmas and New Year with snowdrifts in which a fluffy evergreen Christmas tree is buried. Bearded peasants will chop down a poor Christmas tree under the spine and bring it to the house, where it will stay smart for seven or ten days, and then go to firewood or to a dump. But the coniferous tree from the genus Araucaria, which is popularly called the "Living Christmas tree", has a slightly different fate
Araucaria Bidville
Araucaria bidwillii (lat.Araucaria bidwillii) - evergreen coniferous tree; a representative of the genus Araucaria of the Araucaria family. The second name is Bunia-bunia. In nature, plants can be found in the humid subtropical forests of Australia.
Chilean Araucaria
Chilean araucaria (lat.Araucaria araucana) - large evergreen tree; a representative of the genus Araucaria of the Araucaria family. Chile and the western regions of Argentina are considered to be the homeland, in the same place the culture grows in the wild.
Araucaria Varifolia
Araucaria varifolia It is also known as room spruce and high araucaria. In Latin, the name of this plant is as follows: Araucaria heterophylla. This plant belongs to a family called Araucariaceae, in Latin the name of this family will be like this:
Brazilian Araucaria
Brazilian araucaria (lat.Araucaria brasiliana) - evergreen tree; a representative of the genus Araucaria of the Araucaria family. It occurs naturally in the north of Argentina, the southern regions of Brazil and the border regions of Paraguay in the form of a large tree about 50 m high.
