Brazilian Araucaria

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

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. It grows in the mountains and hills. The second name is narrow-leaved aralia. Plants are popularly called Paransky pine, Brazilian pine, candelabra tree or pinheiro. Currently, the Brazilian Aralia is considered an endangered species, and is listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation.

Characteristics of culture

Brazilian araucaria is a coniferous tree up to 35 m high (there are specimens over 50 m in height) with a flattened umbrella-shaped crown and a straight trunk covered with resinous, fine-scaled, furrowed bark. Leaves (needles) are dark green, thick, lanceolate, with sharp tips, up to 6 cm long, collected in pairs, form bunches.

Brazilian araucaria is a dioecious plant. The female cones are brown, spherical, up to 20 cm in diameter, the average weight is 700 g. The male cones are covered with overlapping scales, noticeably elongated, up to 18 cm long. The cones fully mature in 2-3 years. Seeds are winged, light brown, up to 5 cm long. One cone contains up to 120 seeds. The species is non-resistant, has a moderate growth, ideal for landscaping gardens and parks. In Russia, it is grown as a houseplant.

Brazilian araucaria has two forms:

* f. Rudolfiana (Rudolf) - represented by powerful trees with long needles;

* f. elegans (graceful) - represented by powerful trees with bluish, more crowded needles.

Application

Brazilian araucaria is used not only as an ornamental culture. Once its seeds were actively used in cooking. Nowadays, Brazilian araucaria is grown to obtain seeds in subtropical countries and Brazil. The seeds of the plant in question are edible and taste like chestnuts. In their composition, they contain a huge amount of useful substances, including protein and calcium, required by the human body.

Reproduction

Brazilian araucaria is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Seeds are sown immediately after harvest, as the seeds lose their germination rather quickly. Sowing is carried out in small containers, one seed at a time. The soil mixture is made up of sand, peat and sod land in a 1: 1 ratio. Crops are well moistened and transferred to a warm room with an air temperature of at least 18C. Seedlings can be expected in 2-8 weeks. Seedlings appear unevenly. It is important to provide the seedlings with good care. As soon as the seedlings braid the entire earthen lump, they are transplanted in a larger container.

Reproduction by semi-lignified cuttings gives good results. They are cut from the apical or intermediate shoots 3-4 cm below the whorl. Lateral shoots are not suitable for grafting, as they give asymmetric growth. After the resin on the cuttings has dried, it is removed from the bottom, and then powdered with charcoal. Treatment of cuttings with growth stimulants is not prohibited. Planting the cuttings for rooting is carried out in a container filled with a moistened mixture of sand and peat in a 1: 1 ratio.

A film is stretched over the planted cuttings or each cutting is covered with a half of a plastic bottle. The optimum temperature for rooting is 25-26C. The cuttings are systematically ventilated and sprayed with warm, settled water. Cuttings take root in 2-2, 5 months. If the conditions are not met, the rooting process is delayed up to 4-5 months. Rooted cuttings are not transplanted into a new container immediately, only after the roots have braided the entire earthen lump.

Home content

Brazilian araucaria is a light-loving plant. Plant pots should be placed in well-lit places, protected from bright sunlight at midday. In order for the crown to form evenly, the trees are turned from time to time. In summer, araucaria can be kept in the garden, but if a low temperature is expected at night, the pots with plants are brought into the room. Even outdoors, trees must receive a sufficient amount of light, otherwise the needles will begin to turn yellow and fall off.

In winter, it is important to provide plants with additional lighting with LED or fluorescent lamps. Indoor temperature should be 20-22C in summer, 14-16C in winter. Lowering the temperature below -10C is highly undesirable. The culture also does not like high temperatures; during the heat, it is necessary to regularly spray the plants. Watering the Brazilian araucaria should be moderate; the soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out. A positively considered species refers to top dressing. Fertilizers intended for coniferous crops are perfect for these purposes. Top dressing is carried out in spring and summer.