Araucaria heterophylla

English name: Norfolk Island Pine

Latin name: Araucaria heterophylla

Family:  Auraucarian - Araucariaceae

Origin: Norfolk Island (Australia)

This evergreen conifer, reaching a height of 50 to 65 m., has a straight vertical stem and symmetrically distributed branches -- even in its natural habitat, where strong winds strongly influence the growth of other plants.

Its young, awl-shaped leaves (narrow, triangular, sharply pointed), from 1 to 1.5 cm. in length, reach a thickness of up to 1 mm. On older trees, leaves of between 5 and 10 mm. reach  a thickness of 2-4 mm. The thickest, most scaly foliage occurs in the upper reaches of the crown.  The cones that grow there have an egg-like or circular shape, and reach a length of 10 to 12 cm. with a diameter of 12 to 14 cm. They reach maturity after 18 months, after which they break down and release edible seeds.