Araucaria heterophylla

species of plant

Araucaria heterophylla, also called the Norfolk Island Pine, is a conifer tree.

Araucaria heterophylla
Norfolk Island Pines, Norfolk Island
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A. heterophylla
Binomial name
Araucaria heterophylla
(Salisb.) Franco

The tree comes from Norfolk Island, a small island in the South Pacific. It is part of the family of trees called Araucaria, which are found in South Pacific, mainly on the island of New Caledonia. It is a very old family of trees. It is listed a vulnerable tree, which means that it is in danger of dying out unless efforts are made to save it.

Captain James Cook was the first Europen to see the trees. He thought they would make good masts for ships. The British government sent people to live on Norfolk Island in 1788 to make sure that these trees would be kept for use by the Royal Navy.[1]

References change

  1. Hoare, Merval (1969). Norfolk Island: An Outline of Its History. St.Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press.